Chapter 3: The River

Planet Penza- Forest

As they started to move, they naturally fell into formation, not out of habit but from something more profound. Uruses and Cael led the way, their steps perfectly synchronised, like two halves of a single heartbeat.

Behind them, Leon followed with long, steady strides that kept a steady rhythm. Ryra, Lyna, and Nira moved close together in the centre, their silhouettes weaving through the thin mist that clung to the ground. A few steps behind, Zyrian trailed them, not far off, merely watching, his presence like a pause between beats of a heartbeat.

It wasn’t training that kept them together. It was trust, the silent kind that doesn’t need words, the type formed through bruises, laughter, and the many times they’ve stood side by side when everything else had fallen apart.

Their shadows stretched long and thin across the path, sometimes overlapping and sometimes blending so entirely that it was difficult to tell which was which.

Lyna shifted slightly, catching Nira’s attention. For a moment, a small, tired, and genuine smile appeared. Leon noticed and exhaled quietly through his nose, as if he had seen it too but decided not to say anything.

Ryra’s chain softly clinked with her movement, the sound gentler now, almost musical against the silence. Ahead, Uruses slowed, glancing back once, not to check or lead, but to see. Everyone was there. And that, somehow, was enough.

They moved through the trees as if they were one living being, seven hearts beating as one, with a single rhythm. Even the cold air between them seemed shared, warm in its silence.

They slowly progressed toward the mountain’s ridge, listening to the steady, rhythmic flow of the river far below and feeling invigorated. Moonlight streamed over the slopes, soft and pale, casting a silver glow on every leaf and stone. The river wound like a glass ribbon, with ripples reflecting the moon and sending tiny flashes of light everywhere.

No one spoke for a long moment. Even Leon, who typically had complaints, stood there, watching the water as if gauging its reach.

The ridge was broad, open, and remarkably pristine. Tall grass moved softly in the night wind, resembling gentle waves. Small white flowers lined the border, faintly illuminated by the moonlight and emitting a mild, pleasant scent.

Nira crouched, her fingers grazing one. “They only bloom during a full moon,” she murmured. “Elaris petals. Rare, even here.”

Lyna followed her gaze, voice quiet. “So, this is it ... the Ridge of Elaris.”

Uruses looked at her. “You’ve heard of it?”

“My mother mentioned it once,” Lyna said. “She explained that this is where the first river of Penza divides, one side nourishing the valleys, and the other disappearing underground. She referred to it as the spot where paths diverge.”

The wind renewed, gentle and precise, bringing the aroma of pine and moist stone. Mist from the river below lifted, wrapping the ridge in delicate veils that shimmered faintly under the moonlight. It no longer resembled a battlefield; instead, it seemed older than they were, untouched by their struggles.

Zyrian stood slightly apart from the others, gazing at the far end of the river. Above them, clouds drifted lazily across the moon, gradually dimming and brightening in gentle waves. For the first time since the mission began, the group felt the forest breathe, alive, deep, and infinite.

Uruses finally said, “We’ll mark this ridge for orientation.”

Lyna nodded. “And perhaps return when we’re not bleeding.”

Zyrian’s faint grin reappeared. “If we ever stop bleeding.”

The wind stirred once more, causing the grass to sway and the petals to ripple, their soft glow scattering toward the river. Afterwards, silence fell; they remained seven silhouettes under the moon, sharing a peaceful moment where even the pursuit felt far away.