Chapter 4: The Road Beyond Home
424 Words
The gates of House Blade closed behind him with a dull thud.
Echo didn't look back.
His belongings fit into a single worn leather pouch slung over his shoulder.
A few spare clothes.
Some dried bread.
And every small gift he had ever received.
He couldn't bear to leave them behind.
"...Well," he muttered with a weak smile.
"I guess this is home now."
The morning sun was warm, yet each step felt heavier than the last.
The road stretched endlessly before him.
No destination.
No plan.
Only silence.
The first day passed quietly.
The second day was much the same.
Echo avoided villages, not wanting to answer questions.
Whenever someone recognized the crest on his discarded cloak, they whispered among themselves.
"The exiled heir..."
"So the rumors were true..."
He simply smiled and kept walking.
By the third day...
The paved road disappeared.
Towering trees surrounded him.
He had unknowingly entered the Verdant Whisper Forest, one of the oldest forests in the Kingdom of Mystic.
Sunlight filtered through emerald leaves.
Birds sang from unseen branches.
For the first time in days...
Echo felt calm.
"...It's peaceful."
His stomach growled.
"...Except for that."
He laughed to himself.
"I really should've packed more food."
As evening approached, Echo searched for berries.
Instead...
He found trouble.
A young Fenrin cub whimpered beneath a fallen tree.
The branch had trapped one of its hind legs.
The cub bared its tiny fangs.
Not out of anger.
Out of fear.
Echo slowly crouched.
"It's okay..."
"I'm not going to hurt you."
The cub growled.
Echo sighed.
"...You're as stubborn as I am."
He carefully pushed against the heavy branch.
It barely moved.
"...Come on..."
His muscles trembled.
Just a little more...
Hummm...
A faint vibration escaped his body.
The branch shivered.
Then rolled aside.
The cub scrambled backward.
For a moment...
It stared at Echo.
Then disappeared into the bushes.
Echo smiled.
"...Guess that's thanks enough."
A calm voice suddenly spoke behind him.
"You lifted that branch with sound."
Echo froze.
He slowly turned around.
Standing a few steps away was an elderly woman carrying a basket filled with herbs.
Her silver hair was tied neatly behind her head.
Gentle eyes.
Straight posture.
The quiet dignity of someone who had seen many years pass.
She smiled warmly.
"You must be Echo."
Echo blinked.
"...You know me?"
The old woman chuckled.
"The Kingdom has many rumors."
"But I prefer meeting people before believing them."
She extended a hand.
"My name is Dorothy."
"You look hungry."
"Would you care for dinner?"
- Writer
