James pulled a badge from his pocket, its design featuring a sun. "Found it-The Silent Shadows'' badge."


    Sophie took the sun-shaped badge from James, turning it over in her hands. "Did you find this among Joseph''s things?" "Yeah," James nodded.


    Sophie examined it closely. It was just like the symbols she''d seen in the church and the old castle-except for the missing phoenix. She frowned, "Is this all? Nothing else?"


    James sighed, "Everything of Joseph''s was destroyed. By the time I got there, it was all in ruins. The Silent Shadows move fast, and their influence is everywhere. Who knows how many merchants in Devonport have joined them? Once you''re in, you have to be ready for their orders, even if they nevere. But when they do, you do whatever it takes toplete them. Otherwise, you risk getting taken out by your own."


    "That dangerous? Then why do so many people still want to join?"N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "People''s desires are endless, Sophie. Some want fame, others money, or just in greed. To get those things, you have to gamble-risk it all for the big payoff."


    "Do we really need to stand out here and talk?" Harold chimed in, draping his coat over Sophie''s shoulders. "It''s snowing harder. Let''s head to Aldridge Estate if we''re gonna chat."


    Harold had never been fond of James, and his face showed it now. Sophie shivered a bit and said, "Let''s go to the Aldridge''s. It''s safe there, and... Odie is there too."


    "Alright," James agreed.


    Sophie got into Harold''s car, ncing at him. His face was unreadable but seemed a bit annoyed. "Why the long face?" she asked.


    "I''m not upset, just can''t stand him," Harold replied. "But you and he seem so distant now. No greetings, like strangers who once knew each other."


    "You''re wrong, Harold. Even though


    we owe each other nothing, I feel like


    I owe him more, and he feels the same about me. It''s just simpler not to talk lf it wasn''t for The Silent Shadows, we probably wouldn''t cross paths again."


    Harold frowned, "Anyone can see he owes you more."


    "That''s the thing with feelings; they''re messy. I''ve moved on, but I worry he''s still stuck, making him more miserable."


    Sophie smiled, a sense of peace


    settling over her. Looking back, she


    realized how naive she''d


    met


    е


    been-tormenting herself for love that was never hers. She''d never really thought about what she wanted. This journey had been tough, every step through thorns. But now, all those grudges and disputes seemed far behind.


    Harold watched her in the rearview mirror, his mind wandering back to when they''d first met. Sophie''s eyes had been sharp and lively, every word and look carefully considered.


    en