CHAPTER 1022: JOURNEY BACK

They kept walking through the forest. Their boots crunching against stone and soil that was influenced by the battle. This part of the forest was not destroyed but just suffered some shockwaves.

The air still stank of smoke and ozone, a bitter reminder of what had just happened.

Arty moved in silence, her steps steady but her face twisted in a constant grimace.

Her hands trembled at her sides as though she was fighting something deep inside. She was trying desperately to remember what she had seen in that terrifying moment when everything went dark.

And then it came to her in flashes. She had seen her skin turn. She remembered her own skin blistering, rotting, covered in pus that oozed and cracked. She saw herself melting into something foul, disgusting, and inhuman.

She also remembered being punched repeatedly by that boy. But that is much more trivial than the others.

The image was so vivid it made her stomach twist.

She had wanted to tear it all away and end it. The memory of the boy standing before her burned through her chest with fury she cannot explain.

She had wanted to kill him, or actually she had needed to kill him. And that was the only thing she wanted at that time.

And then... nothing. Her mind was a blank void after that.

Her lips pressed tightly, her expression darkening. The harder she tried to recall, the more her head pounded until it felt like nails were hammering into her skull.

Jan, Esther, Hund, and Annette walked in formation around her. A loose circle that was protective but also careful. Their eyes drifted toward her often but they didn’t press with questions.

They didn’t accuse her or treat her like a threat.

Esther walked with her arms folded. Her gaze looking at the woods, always alert. Hund’s heavy boots crunched softly as he scanned their flanks. Annette lingered near Arty’s side, her soft concern was clearly visible, ready to lend help at a moment’s notice.

They understood—or at least, they thought they did.

To them, Arty had simply lost control of her Magic in her rage. Who wouldn’t? She had been forced to fight for her life against a berserk lightning storm by an arrogant noble who most likely wanted her dead.

Her fury had simply drawn out more power than she could handle. That much, they could forgive and they could understand that.

But Jan... Jan alone knew otherwise.

He had seen the abyss in her eyes. That blackness was not rage or Magic, or anything he had seen before. It wasn’t simply her power running wild but it was something else that was much darker.

He marched at the head of the group, his expression grim, his hand never straying far from the hilt of his dagger at his hip.

He gave the order to keep moving at a fast pace. None of them complained. They all sensed his urgency and obeyed.

Hours passed. The sun dipped low, and eventually, night fell.

The forest grew eerily quiet. Even the insects seemed wary of the scar of destruction left behind them.

At Jan’s command, they stopped.

They set up a small camp in a clearing shielded by trees. Hund gathered wood, Esther whispered low enchantments to conceal their presence, and Annette lit the fire. The flames flickering gently against their tired faces.

Arty sat apart from the others while they prepared the camp. Her knees drew close and she was staring into the fire with empty eyes.

Shadows played across her face and in the silence of the night, she looked lost. Caught between fear of herself and the memory she couldn’t escape.

Jan never let his gaze leave her. His thoughts gnawed at him, heavier with each passing moment.

That blackness...

He clenched his jaw.

Jan then shook his head, pushing the thought aside for now.

Arty looked confused enough already, and maybe even frightened of herself. Thinking about it more and letting his worry show would only make things worse. It was better to act naturally to keep things steady.

They ate their dinner in silence. The fire crackled faintly, the only sound filling the clearing.

Annette tried to speak softly, offering words of comfort. Esther followed, her tone calm but firm, though her eyes showing her own concern about a lot of things on Arty’s being.

Hund only gave a single nod as his way of showing quiet support.

Jan remained seated without a word, his expression was unreadable. He knew—perhaps Esther and Annette knew as well—that no matter how much they tried to console Arty, it would be useless. She couldn’t possibly let go of what she had experienced. The memory would remain with her, like a shadow she couldn’t shake.

The night passed slowly with heavy unspoken thoughts.

When morning came, they rose at first light. The fire was doused and their few belongings packed quickly.

Without lingering, they set off once more, continuing their journey through the forest.

Jan chose not to follow the winding path they had once taken, the one that felt like a slow tour through the forest. This time he guided them along a quicker narrower route, cutting through uneven ground and thorny undergrowth.

His pace was sharp and firm, leaving no room for doubt about his decision.

Arty, however, frowned at the sudden change, her steps faltering slightly as unease touched her features.

She looked at Jan with uncertainty, her voice low, almost hesitant. "Are we lost?"

Jan glanced back, a small smile breaking the grimness of his face.

"No. This is a quicker route. Trust me."

His words carried a quiet reassurance, enough to steady her.

She exhaled softly, nodding, and the confusion faded from her eyes.

The others followed without complaint. Their relief hidden under silence. Their boots crunching over stone and grass as the trees began to thin.

Hours stretched and the forest finally gave way. Then with it came the first glimpse of towering stone rising in the distance.

The kingdom’s walls stood proud against the horizon.

A collective sigh escaped them.

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