The rhythmic thump-thump of the Earth Lizard's heavy footfalls and the creaking of the six-wheeled carriage provided a steady background noise as they moved. The sun was dipping low, painting the sky in bruised purples and deep oranges.
Harlon, sitting beside Grey at the reins, didn't look at him. He simply raised a hand, and a thin, shimmering film of black-tinted mana expanded from his palm, encasing the driver's seat in a dome of flickering shadow.
To those inside the carriage or walking nearby, Grey and Harlon would look like they were talking, but not a single vibration of their voices would escape the Soundproof Aura Field.
"Now we can speak freely," Harlon said, his voice dropping the formal tone he used in public.
"The Princess and the others don't need to know the full extent of the horror we're running from yet. Fear is a heavy weight for first-years."
Grey adjusted his grip on the leather reigns. "Headmaster Hamdal told me about the experiments. The 'Daywalkers.' It's worse than I thought."
"It is a nightmare made flesh, Grey," Harlon replied grimly. "The Eclipse Beasts have always been a manageable threat because they are bound by the clock. We had the day to rebuild, to farm, to breathe. If they harvest Elena's blood... there is no more 'day.' There is only the hunt."
Harlon turned his head slightly, his scarred jaw tight. "You defeated me, and for that, you have my steel. But you must understand—the Prime Minister isn't just being difficult. In our legends, the Moon God's blood isn't just power; it's a bridge between the physical world and the void. If they get a hold of her, he won't just make his soldiers immune to the sun."
"They will likely attempt to 'Eclipse' the sun itself. Not for an hour, but for an eternity."
"I've seen what you can do," Harlon continued. "But the Shadow Unit has reports. Thier top echelon has dispatched thier 'Hounds'—specialized trackers who can smell a divine bloodline from miles away. They won't come at us head-on like I did. They'll use poison, illusions, and they will target the weakest links in our chain first."
Grey glanced back at the carriage where Lenore and the others were likely laughing. "You mean my friends."
"I mean everyone who isn't you, me, or Solmon," Harlon corrected. "Princess Erowen is capable, but she's never seen a real battlefield. Zenon is focused on a family contest. They are distractions that they will exploit to get to Elena."
Grey looked forward at the darkening road. "Then we don't let them. I'm not just a shield, Harlon. I'm the one who's going to make sure every single one of them gets to Grimhold alive."
Harlon let out a short, dry chuckle. "Spoken like a true Saint's disciple, even if you aren't one. Just remember: in the dark, even the brightest light casts the longest shadow. We are that shadow now."
As the trees thickened and the road began to narrow into the dense forest paths leading toward the mountains, the temperature dropped sharply. The Earth Lizard let out a low, uneasy huff, its tongue flickering out to taste the air.
Since night was almost to descend, Grey offered to find a clearing and stop for the night and set perimeter.
Harlon agreed and they started looking around for a spot when suddenly, they saw smoke rising from a short distance ahead.
Both Harlon and Grey exchanged a look and started moving towards it.
After a short travel they came out of the forest into a wide clearing.They were a bit taken aback to see a small village in front of them.
The lights inside the house were dim but the smoke from the chimneys was speaking of human presence inside.
Grey snapped the reigns as the earth lizard moved towards the village.
Harlon removed the soundproof layer and called for the ones inside.
"Get your defences up and be ready guys, we're approaching unknown grounds." He whispered.
The ones inside immediately perked up and silence descended immediately.
As the carriage arrived in front of the main gates of the village, two young males jumped in front of them.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" One of the males screamed out pointing a self made wooden spear pointed towards them.
"We mean no harm. We're students from the Veridian academy. We're looking for a place to rest when we saw smoke from this place and came here." Grey said calmly.
"How can we believe you? You have any proof?" The second man asked.
Grey immediately pulled out his student plate and threw it towards the man.
The man caught it and carefully inspected. But he was still skeptical and unable to verify the plate.
"Wait here." He then moved inside the village and came out after a few minutes.
"Relax. The chief says they're legit." The man said to his companion as the other one lowered his weapon.
"You can enter. The chief wishes to meet you all." The man said and then opened the gates letting the carriage move inside.
Grey and Harlon nodded as the carriage moved inside slowly with the large thudding steps of the earth Lizard.
The Earth Lizard's heavy, rhythmic thuds were the only sound in the quiet clearing as the carriage passed through the makeshift wooden gates.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere had shifted from curious chatter to a cold, professional readiness. Weapons were gripped, and mana was kept at a low, steady simmer.
The village was small—hardly more than a dozen stone-and-timber houses clustered around a central well. The air smelled of damp earth and cedar smoke, but something felt... off.
There were no children playing, and no livestock lowing in the twilight. Only the flickering, dim light of tallow candles behind shuttered windows.
As the carriage ground to a halt in the center of the village, the group disembarked.
Grey and Harlon jumped down from the driver's seat, their eyes scanning the rooftops.
Solmon stepped out next, his massive frame casting a long, intimidating shadow.
Blaze and Zenon fanned out slightly, forming a loose defensive circle around the carriage.
But Harlon asked the girls to stay inside until they could gauge the situation, leaving Aeron to stay guard.