Shikihime''s silhouette vanished into the shadows, her warning echoing in the stillness of the underground passage. "Don''t follow me, if I don''t return in an hour. Leave." Her voice, usually so commanding, carried a tremor of uncertainty that Shikuro had never heard before. He moved forward instinctively, but the engulfing darkness swallowed her whole.


    Turning to Yoru, Shikuro''s eyes were resolute. "We won''t leave. We are getting back together or not at all." Yoru''s nod was silent, her usual sharp retort absent. She seemed distant, her gaze fixed on the forbidding entrance where Shikihime had disappeared.


    Time dragged on heavily, each tick of the clock stretching endlessly for Shikuro. His restless pacing betrayed his inner turmoil. In stark contrast, Minato and Akalune lay motionless, their breathing steady. Whether it was sleep or an act, Shikuro couldn''t tell.


    As the hour mark approached, Shikuro''s patience frayed. "How can they sleep when she''s in danger?" he muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.


    Yoru''s response was calm but firm. "They sleep because if she doesn''t return, they''ll need all their strength to bring her back. We''re doing the right thing." Her words were a gentle reminder of their physical limitations – a stark contrast to Shikuro''s seemingly boundless energy.


    Bjorn’s voice broke the quiet. “We don’t understand it, so we need to express ourselves. And sooner rather than later. If we need to pace down, it’s enough to say it.” His words hung in the air, a silent plea for understanding and communication.


    Before Shikuro could respond, Shikihime reappeared from the underground. He studied her closely. The physical toll was evident on her – weight loss, red, swollen eyes, and a pallor to her skin. They all needed rest, but could they afford to take it with the river yet to cross?


    Shikihime tried to stand tall but collapsed, gasping for air. The group rushed to her side, concern etched on every face. "There''s not enough air... I just need to catch my breath," she managed to say.


    After Shikihime regained her breath, she began to relay her findings. "I found a tunnel leading under the river to the other side, but there''s a heavy obstruction on the exit doors. I could only lift it slightly; it''s beyond my strength to move it alone. And there''s not enough room for two people to work on it together. If we can''t force it open, we''re stuck," she explained, her voice strained but determined.


    She glanced at Shikuro and Bjorn, continuing, "There''s also a small room. It looks like it''s visited monthly, but unfortunately, the next visit isn''t due for another week. We can''t wait that long; they might catch us. I''ve left a coded message saying we''re alive and heading for the Black Sun Company in one of the cities. According to a map I found, we''re about four to five days from Vrastislava, which is ahead of schedule by two days. But our main challenge is opening those doors on the other side of the tunnel."


    Before Shikuro could respond, Bjorn interjected, "I''ll go and try to open it. If I succeed, we show up on the other side of the river. I think Shikihime and Shikuro should follow, but I need someone to guide me there." As he spoke, Shikihime''s strength gave out, and she collapsed, unconscious.


    A wave of panic swept through the group. Shikuro''s face reflected a turmoil of guilt and realisation. In that moment, he understood that the woman he cared for in Frostgard, regardless of her name or past, was still the same person. He resolved to marry her, to make amends for the hardships she endured, and to protect her at all costs. His determination was unwavering: survive, return, and confront their enemies.


    Yoru, after quickly examining Shikihime, reassured the group, "She''s just exhausted. Rest will help her recover." Shikuro turned to Bjorn, his voice firm with newfound resolve. "Go with Akalune. Open those doors. Make sure it''s done, and don''t fail." Bjorn nodded, understanding the gravity of the task, and set off with Akalune, leaving Shikuro to watch over Shikihime with a protective gaze.


    In the thickening gloom of the forest, Shikuro sat beside Shikihime, his thoughts a tumultuous storm. He was coming to terms with his own ignorance, realizing that his and Bjorn''s hardy endurance was not a standard that could be applied to the others. This sobering realization weighed heavily on him, and he began to gently stroke Shikihime''s hair, lost in contemplation.


    The silence around them was only broken by the occasional rustle of leaves or distant call of a night creature. Shikuro''s mind raced with thoughts of the journey they had undertaken, the dangers they had faced, and the fatigue that had crept into their bones. He watched Minato and Yoru, who seemed to be either sleeping or feigning sleep. How could they find rest at such a time? he wondered.


    Shikuro’s internal monologue was interrupted by Minato’s voice, breaking the silence with the news that Bjorn and Akalune had successfully emerged on the other side of the river. It was a glimmer of hope, yet they couldn''t proceed just yet. Shikuro turned to Minato and Yoru, his voice firm yet tinged with fatigue, "You two go ahead. I want to give her a little more time to rest. Once you’re across, I’ll wake her and follow with her.”


    Yoru''s expression showed her reluctance, but before she could voice her concerns, Minato interceded, his tone pragmatic. He understood the gravity of the situation and the need for swift action. With a nod from Yoru, the pair descended into the tunnel, leaving Shikuro alone with his thoughts and the slumbering Shikihime.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    As he sat there, Shikuro''s gaze alternated between the stirring figure of Shikihime and the distant riverbank where their comrades had vanished. A sudden impulse seized him, and he leaned in towards Shikihime, intending to plant a gentle kiss on her cheek. But in the dim light, his aim was askew, and his lips brushed hers instead. Startled, Shikihime’s eyes fluttered open, catching Shikuro in the act. Her reaction was not of anger but of a weak, teasing remark, “You know, if these were different circumstances, I might continue, but lying on the ground like this isn’t exactly romantic. My back is killing me.”


    Her playful response eased the tension, and Shikuro couldn''t help but smile, despite the gravity of their situation. He offered her his hand, helping her to sit up more comfortably. "We''ll get through this," he said, more to reassure himself than her. "Together."


    Shikihime sat up slowly, her breathing still labored from her ordeal in the tunnel. She leaned against a tree, her eyes scanning the surroundings as Shikuro sat beside her, a look of concern etched on his face.


    "Where are the others?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.


    "Bjorn and Akalune have made it to the other side of the river. Minato and Yoru just left a few minutes ago," Shikuro replied, his eyes not leaving her. "I’m waiting to see them emerge on the other side. Are you sure you can make it through the tunnel? It’s a 30-minute walk, even in your condition."


    Shikihime closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her strength. "I''ll manage," she said finally. "I have to. It’s our only way out." Her voice, though weak, carried a determination that Shikuro had come to admire.


    Shikuro''s brow furrowed with worry. "At least? What do you mean? What aren’t you telling me?"


    "I think I''ve caught a flu or something similar," she confessed, avoiding his gaze. "I''ve been using herbs to suppress the fever, but we''ve run out. I fear I might slow you down."


    "Nonsense," Shikuro retorted, his voice rising with emotion. "We''re not leaving without you, and you''re not slowing us down. I have enough stamina for both of us. I''ll carry you if I have to."


    Shikihime gave a weak smile but didn''t argue further. Just then, Shikuro saw Minato appear on the other side of the river. He turned back to Shikihime, his resolve hardening. "I need you to get us through that tunnel. After that, I''ll take care of everything else."


    Interlude: Nightblack Wrath


    The grand hall of Nobr Castle, the heart of the Duchy of Dawntime, echoed with tension. General Nightblack, a figure known for his ruthless efficiency, paced before a kneeling Hawk. The mercenary leader''s face was etched with a mix of fear and defiance. Nearby, the lifeless body of Hawk''s second-in-command served as a grim reminder of the gravity of their situation.


    Hawk, leader of a seasoned band of mercenaries, had accepted what seemed like a straightforward, lucrative mission from the Stardust Kingdom. His task was to discreetly shadow an envoy, including Shikihime, and coordinate a deadly ambush far from prying eyes. What was supposed to be a simple operation had disastrously backfired. Now, with a significant loss of his men and the mission''s failure, Hawk found himself at the mercy of Nightblack''s wrath.


    One of Hawk''s elite tracking units, known for their stealth and effectiveness, had been uncharacteristically discovered and neutralized. This blunder had left the main ambush force, positioned for a rear attack, completely absent when needed. The frontal assault force, caught off guard, suffered heavy losses – a staggering 50% casualty rate. In just a single day, Hawk''s formidable force was reduced by a quarter.


    Nightblack''s voice cut through the heavy silence, "Explain yourself, Hawk!" His tone was laced with anger and disappointment. "I paid you handsomely, equipped you with horses, provided a detailed plan... and yet, you failed spectacularly. The primary target of the ambush is still at large, evading even your so-called ''best trackers''. Give me a reason, an excuse – anything that holds a semblance of logic. Otherwise, I assure you, your entire group will face the consequences."


    Hawk swallowed hard, knowing that his next words might seal his fate. "General, the failure was unforeseen. My men are skilled, but we encountered resistance unlike any we''ve faced before. The envoy... they were prepared, as if they knew we were coming. It''s as though they were one step ahead at every turn."


    Nightblack''s imposing figure loomed over Hawk, his presence casting an intimidating shadow in the dimly lit chamber of the castle in Nobr. His voice, cold and unyielding, broke the heavy silence. "Blaming treachery for your incompetence? They were on high alert because your men were compromised. A failure of oversight, nothing more. As of now, you''re a dead man walking. Convince me otherwise."


    Hawk, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead, scrambled for a plausible explanation. "The intelligence was flawed! We faced not just any soldiers, but blue steel warriors from both the Realm and the Dynasty. And the Stardust Kingdom''s troops – they were in a league of their own. Their captain was a whirlwind of destruction amidst our ranks. We weren''t prepared for such an elite force!"


    Nightblack''s eyes narrowed, his anger simmering just below the surface. "Of course, I provided them with our finest soldiers. This was meant to look like a rebel attack, not a skirmish with second-rate troops. Now, both the Dynasty and the Realm are demanding answers. They want to know who guarded their envoy. I have nothing to hide – I sent our best."


    Hawk''s heart sank as he realized the depth of Nightblack''s cunning. To protect diplomatic interests, Nightblack had sacrificed his most loyal soldiers – a chilling reminder of the general''s ruthless pragmatism.


    "And where did you lose them?" Nightblack''s voice was dangerously calm, each word a veiled threat.


    In the dimly lit chamber of the castle in the capital city of Dawntime, Nobr, tension filled the air. General Nightblack''s gaze was fixed unyieldingly on Hawk, who stood trembling before him. "Your excuses are as flimsy as your loyalty," Nightblack''s voice was cold and unyielding, "You''ve let them slip through our grasp in the Dire Forest. How could you not foresee their movements?"


    Before Hawk could finish, Nightblack''s patience snapped. "Ignacio!" he barked.


    Ignacio stepped forward, his face a mask of stoicism, and without a word, Hawk''s fate was sealed. Nightblack turned his cold gaze to Ignacio, "Your sister and you will finish this, or her remaining eye will be on my dinner plate."


    Ignacio, his frown deepening, knew the odds were against them. "But General, they''re gone, vanished. Hawk wasn''t a fool; his tactics were sound."


    Nightblack, his interest waning, dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "Return to Frostgard, wait for them. Fail me again, and it''ll be your last mistake."


    As Ignacio left, the weight of his final chance hung heavily in the air. The chase was far from over, but the stakes had never been higher.