Unrest

The fire crackled softly, sending up occasional sparks into the night air. The rocky overhang provided decent shelter, though the cold still crept in. Juhtmed sat with his back against the stone, watching the flames flicker. Lian was on first watch, sitting a little apart from them, sharpening her dagger with slow, methodical strokes.

Veyla, sprawled near the fire, let out a sigh. "You know, for a group of people traveling together, we're awfully quiet."

Juhtmed smirked. "Some of us enjoy the silence."

She grinned. "And some of us think it's boring." She rolled onto her side, propping her head up with one hand. "So, since we're all stuck here, let's play a game. Two truths and a lie. Best way to get to know someone."

Lian shot her a sharp look. "We're not here to play games."

Veyla waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, come on. We're out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by darkness, and probably being watched by something with sharp teeth. What better time to learn about each other?"

Juhtmed chuckled. "Fine. You start."

Veyla grinned. "Alright. I once stole a noble's pendant while he was still wearing it, I've killed a man with a hairpin, and I used to be a merchant's daughter."

Juhtmed raised an eyebrow. "The hairpin. That's the lie."

Lian scoffed. "No. The merchant's daughter is the lie. She has a thief's hands, not a merchant's."

Veyla gave them both a wicked smile. "Wrong. I was once a merchant's daughter. My father sold spice until he gambled away his fortune and kill himself then after that i was sold to a noble. The hairpin, though? Never killed anyone with one. Yet."

Lian shook his head. "Dangerous habit, lying so easily."

"Useful habit," Veyla corrected. "Alright, your turn, noble boy."

Juhtmed thought for a moment, then smirked. "I was poisoned to death by my own family, I lost a part of my memory, and I hate reading."

Veyla sat up, eyes gleaming with interest. "The poisoned to death by your family, that's the lie. No way your own family did that."

Lian, who had been listening with a carefully blank expression, tilted her head slightly. "No. The lie is that he was poisoned by his own family."

Juhtmed sighed. "Well she's right in some way. I can just assume that the case."

 "Well didn't you say you were a prince from where you from?"

Juhtmed's smirk faded slightly. "I'am." He poked the fire with a stick. "I was simply born as the son of a concubine."

Veyla hummed in thought. "Its a strange concept the family..."

Lian's voice was quiet. "Always."

For a moment, the three of them sat in silence, the fire casting their shadows against the rock. The wind rustled through the trees, bringing the scent of damp earth and leaves.

Then, a twig snapped.

Lian's dagger was in her hand before Juhtmed even registered the sound. Veyla was already crouched, eyes narrowed as she scanned the darkness.

Juhtmed stood slowly, hand hovering near the short dague strapped to his belt. "Did you hear that?"

Lian didn't answer immediately. Her gaze swept the treeline, body tense. The fire crackled, but otherwise, the forest had gone deathly still.

Then, the low, unmistakable sound of footsteps. Slow. Deliberate.

Veyla shifted closer to Juhtmed, voice barely above a whisper. "Bandits?"

Lian shook her head. "No. Bandits don't move like that."

Juhtmed's grip tightened on his sword. "Then what?"

A voice drifted from the darkness, smooth and composed. "Now, now. No need for weapons."

A figure stepped into the firelight, a man dressed in dark traveler's clothes, his posture relaxed but deliberate. He was tall, lean, and carried himself with the easy confidence of someone who was used to being in control. His face was half-covered by a scarf, but sharp eyes gleamed above it.

Behind him, two others emerged, keeping a distance but clearly poised for action.

Lian's stance didn't relax. "Who are you?"

The man placed a hand over his chest in mock courtesy. "A traveler, same as you. Though I admit, it's rare to see such… interesting company on this road." His eyes flickered toward Juhtmed, lingering just a moment too long. "A noble without an entourage. Unusual."

Juhtmed didn't let his expression change. "Not that unusual."

The man chuckled. "True. Some prefer to keep things discreet." He gestured to his companions. "My friends and I, we have a habit of ensuring safe passage for those who wander these roads."

Veyla scoffed. "You mean robbing them?"

The man sighed, shaking his head. "Such an ugly word. I prefer 'negotiating terms of safe travel.'"

Lian took a step forward, her expression cold. "We're not interested."

The man tilted his head. "Are you sure? It would be a shame if anything… unfortunate happened before you reached your destination."

Juhtmed exhaled slowly. "How much?"

Veyla glanced at him sharply, but he ignored her.

The man smiled. "Ah, a reasonable one. Let's say… twenty gold pieces."

Juhtmed let out a short laugh. "For that price, I'd expect an armed escort all the way to my destination."

The man smirked. "Perhaps. But I imagine you'd prefer to arrive unscathed rather than… let's say, delayed."

Lian's grip on her dagger tightened. "There are three of you and three of us. It won't go the way you think."

The man's smile widened. "Ah, but you don't know how many more are watching from the trees, do you?"

Juhtmed didn't look away from the man's gaze. He was bluffing. Probably. But "probably" wasn't something he was willing to gamble on.

Slowly, he reached into his coat and pulled out a small pouch, tossing it to the man.

The man caught it effortlessly, weighing it in his hand before nodding. "Smart choice."

Veyla muttered under her breath, but said nothing.

The man tipped an imaginary hat. "Pleasure doing business. Safe travels."

With that, he turned and disappeared back into the darkness, his men following. The night swallowed them whole, leaving only the distant sound of retreating footsteps.

Juhtmed exhaled. Lian sheathed her dagger, her expression unreadable.

Veyla huffed. "I could've taken at least two of them."

Juhtmed sat back down. "Maybe. But then we'd have had to deal with the rest of them bluff or not im not taking that risk."

Lian didn't speak, but there was a tightness to her jaw.

Veyla sighed. "Fine. Next time, I at least get to punch someone."

Juhtmed smirked. "I'll keep that in mind."

The rest of the night passed without incident.

By dawn, they were on the road again. And with each step, the academy loomed closer.

And with it, everything they had been running toward. Or running from.

As the morning sun began to filter through the dense canopy, the three travelers trudged forward in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The previous night's encounter had left a lingering tension, a reminder of just how precarious their journey was.

Juhtmed walked slightly ahead, his expression unreadable. He had always known danger lurked in the shadows, but to have it confront them so directly left a bitter taste in his mouth. He glanced at Veyla, who strode beside him with a restless energy, her fingers twitching as if eager for action.

"So, what exactly is waiting for you at this academy?" Veyla finally asked, breaking the silence.

Juhtmed hesitated for a moment before answering. "Maybe answers. That's what I'm hoping for, and also create my own strength with link and alliance, for my own good."

Lian, who had been walking a few paces behind, scoffed. "Answers rarely come without a price."

Juhtmed glanced back at her. "Im, willing to pay it."

Veyla smirked. "Speak for yourself. I'm mostly in it for the adventure. And maybe the chance to relieve a few nobles of their coin."

Juhtmed shook his head, suppressing a chuckle. "Somehow, I doubt you need an academy for that."

"True," she said with a grin. "But if you're going to aim high, might as well aim for the rich and powerful, right?"

Lian shot her a sharp look. "Careful. If we draw too much attention, we'll have more than just your own well being to deal with."

"Noted," Veyla said, though the glint in her eye suggested she wouldn't be easily deterred.

The path began to widen as they neared a crossroads. A weathered signpost stood at the intersection, its wooden planks barely legible from years of exposure.

Kümme Academy - 15 miles

Juhtmed felt a strange mixture of relief and apprehension. They were close. Too close to turn back now.

A distant rumble caught their attention. Not thunder, but something more deliberate, rhythmic. Hoofbeats. Many of them.

Lian stiffened. "Riders. And they're moving fast."

Juhtmed's grip tightened on his dague hilt. "Bandits again?"

Veyla shook her head. "No. Bandits don't ride in formation."

Through the trees, a group of mounted figures emerged, clad in dark cloaks with polished dark armor glinting beneath. Their leader, a man with a commanding presence and a crest embroidered on his shoulder, reined his horse to a halt. His gaze swept over the three travelers with practiced scrutiny.

"You there," he called, his voice firm but not unkind. "State your business."

Juhtmed stepped forward. "We're heading to Kümme."

The man studied him for a moment before nodding. "Then you'll want to be careful. The roads ahead have seen trouble—more than usual."

Lian narrowed her eyes. "What kind of trouble?"

The soldier's expression darkened. "Disappearances. Caravans vanishing without a trace. Whatever's out there, it's not just common thieves."

Juhtmed exchanged a glance with Veyla and Lian. The bandits from the night before suddenly seemed like the least of their worries.

The soldier turned his horse. "If you insist on going forward, stay on the main road. And if you see anything... unusual, head straight for the academy walls."

Juhtmed nodded. "We'll keep that in mind."

The riders moved on, their hoofbeats fading into the distance. A heavy silence settled over the group.

"Well," Veyla said, breaking the tension. "That was ominous."

Lian adjusted the strap on her pack. "We should move. The sooner we reach the academy, the better."

Without another word, they pressed on.