Chapter 28

A cold breeze swept through the balcony, carrying with it the scent of the forest beyond the castle grounds. Rhaine's grip loosened on the letter as she closed her eyes, drawing in a steadying breath. The sun was almost hanging low in the sky, veiled by wisps of clouds, as if it too carried secrets it was unwilling to reveal.

Her resolve hardened. If the Lunacrest essence had chosen differently, she needed to uncover why. Rhaine attempted to fold the letter carefully and then tucked it into her satchel.

A little while later…..

A knock at the door startled her, and the guard's voice called from the other side. "The general is ready to depart, Saintess. Please hurry."

"I'm coming," she answered firmly. Gathering her belongings including her lunarest essence, she checked if everything was there before biding Selara goodbye.

The palace grounds buzzed with disciplined energy as soldiers moved in synchronized formation, their faces stoic and hardened. The air was thick with the scent of leather, steel, and determination. Rhaine's gaze swept across the grounds, her heart a mix of awe and unease.

The guard leading her walked briskly toward the sleek black mare prepared for her. Its coat gleamed under the waning afternoon sun, muscles taut with barely restrained power. As the guard tightened the straps on her bag, securing it firmly to the saddle, he bowed respectfully and took his leave.

Her senses prickled, aware of the intense gaze fixed on her. Kaelion, clad in gleaming armor that bore the scars of countless battles, watched her in silence. His presence was commanding, like a tempest waiting to be unleashed.

"Do you need help?" his voice broke through the tense quiet, low and steady.

Rhaine straightened her back, determined to show strength. "No, thank you. I can manage," she replied as she mounted the horse with practiced ease.

A flicker of something—perhaps approval—crossed Kaelion's face, though it was gone as quickly as it appeared. The barest hint of a smile tugged at his lips before he turned to address the waiting soldiers.

"Let's move!" he commanded, his voice sharp and authoritative.

The procession of mounted soldiers surged forward, hooves pounding against the earth in a rhythmic thunder. Rhaine found herself riding beside Kaelion, silence stretching between them like an unspoken challenge. The only sounds were the clinking of armor and the steady beat of hooves.

As the miles stretched on, weariness crept into her limbs despite her efforts to mask it. She let out a quiet sigh, drawing Kaelion's attention.

"Tired?" he asked, his tone more curious than concerned.

"No," she lied, meeting his gaze with a polite smile. "I'm fine, thank you."

Kaelion's eyes lingered on her for a moment, as if assessing the truth of her words. "Good," he said simply, turning his focus back to the path ahead.

The journey continued, the landscape shifting from open fields to dense woods that cast long shadows across their path. The scent of pine filled the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of the forest. As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, Kaelion pulled his horse to a halt.

"It's almost dusk," he announced, his voice cutting through the quiet. "Men, set up camp. You," he pointed to a group of soldiers, "go hunt some wild game. We'll need food for the night."

"Yes, General!" the soldiers responded in unison, bowing before dispersing into the woods.

Kaelion dismounted smoothly, his movements precise and practiced. Rhaine followed suit, landing lightly on the ground. As she adjusted her footing, her satchel—which had loosened during the journey—slipped from her shoulder and tumbled to the ground.

Before she could reach for it, Kaelion was already there, his gloved hand closing around the strap. He straightened, holding it out to her.

"Here," he said, his voice low.

"Thank you," she said, reaching for it. As their hands brushed, the satchel shifted, and something tumbled out—a small vial containing a shimmering purple liquid.

The Lunacrest essence.

The vial caught the fading sunlight, its glow mesmerizing. Kaelion's eyes narrowed, intrigue flickering across his face.

"This is—" he began, reaching toward it.

Rhaine's heart raced as she snatched the vial from his grasp, cradling it protectively against her chest. "It's nothing," she said hastily, shoving it back into the satchel.

Kaelion's expression darkened, suspicion lingering in his gaze. But he said nothing, merely nodding once as if filing the incident away for later scrutiny.

The cool evening air carried the scent of pine and earth as the soldiers busily set up camp, their movements swift and practiced. Fires crackled to life, casting flickering shadows across the dense woods surrounding them. The setting sun painted the sky with hues of crimson and gold, a striking contrast to the growing tension in Rhaine's chest.

Kaelion stood tall amidst the activity, his sharp gaze never wavering from the surroundings. His aura commanded respect and vigilance, making it clear why he held the position of general. Even now, soldiers snapped to attention with just a flicker of his glance.

Rhaine busied herself tying her horse to a sturdy tree branch, her fingers trembling slightly as she recalled how close Kaelion had come to touching the Lunacrest essence. Her heart thudded in her chest at the thought. If he had grabbed it... no, he mustn't.

As she secured her satchel, Kaelion's voice cut through the hum of the camp. "Drink." He extended a half-filled water skin toward her, the worn leather glistening with moisture.

Rhaine hesitated, her eyes darting to the water skin. "Oh, um—thank you," she murmured awkwardly, taking it with both hands. Her fingers brushed against his briefly, and a strange warmth bloomed in her chest. The water skin felt heavier than it should, perhaps because she knew Kaelion had already drunk from it.

"You haven't had a drop of water since we left," he pointed out, his tone matter-of-fact yet tinged with concern.

"I... I'm fine, really," she said, avoiding his gaze. She lifted the water skin to her lips but stopped short, her nerves betraying her. I can't drink from this...

Kaelion's brow furrowed. "Why do youhesitate? It's just water, Saintess."

"It's not that—" she started, but her voice faltered under his penetrating stare.

"You're nervous about sharing a water skin?" he asked, his tone laced with subtle amusement.

"No! I just—" She sighed in defeat, realizing how ridiculous she must sound. Determined not to show weakness, she tilted the water skin and took a small sip, the cool liquid soothing her parched throat. Her fingers clenched around the leather as she lowered it, eyes locked firmly on the ground.

Kaelion's lips curved ever so slightly, though his expression remained unreadable. "See? Not so difficult."

Rhaine cleared her throat, desperate to change the subject. "I'll help gather herbs for the camp's healers," she said quickly, stepping away.

Before she could escape, Kaelion's voice stopped her. "Be careful. This forest isn't as peaceful as it looks."

"I can handle myself," she assured him, her tone firmer than she intended.

His gaze lingered on her for a moment, as though weighing her words. "Very well. But don't wander too far."