The rhythmic trot of the horses cut through the silence of the dense forest, where the sunlight filtered through the leaves in golden beams. Kael kept his eyes fixed on the path ahead, but his mind was not quiet. The smell of damp earth mixed with the distant sound of birds seemed to soundtrack his restless thoughts.
Exelia followed at his side, firm and attentive, her expression serious and almost impassive. But Kael sensed that something was hidden between the lines of her silence.
After hours of travel, he finally broke the silence:
"Exelia... why didn't my grandmother say goodbye to me?" Kael asked, his voice low, almost hesitant. "And why didn't she let me use mass teleportation to get to the elves' kingdom? I could have saved hours of travel time."
Exelia gave him a quick, analytical glance, then shifted her focus to the trail ahead.
