Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls

The night wind was still present when they left the ruined tower behind. The encounter with the princess had transformed the silence of the journey into something denser, almost suffocating. Now there was no longer just the worry of navigating roads infested with bandits or hunters—there was the life of someone whose death could spark wars between kingdoms.

Kael led the way, his black cloak dragging over the uneven ground, like a shadow guiding them. His amber eyes didn't fix on a specific point, but mapped every curve of the terrain, every crevice in the rocks, every possible ambush.

Behind him, Irelia walked silently, her hand never far from the hilt of her sword. Sylphie followed closely behind, holding a carefully folded parchment. Amelia, for her part, seemed the most relaxed, though her posture betrayed a readiness to react to any provocation.

The princess came last, escorted by the coachman leading the horses. Her pale veils contrasted with the bleak landscape, and there was something in her posture that screamed both fragility and stubbornness.

When the road widened into a clearing lit only by the moon, Kael raised his hand, ordering silence and a pause. The group stopped immediately. Sylphie seized the moment to unroll the map and approach.

"We need to talk about the route," she said, her voice low but firm.

Kael raised an eyebrow, not looking back. "Speak."

Sylphie crouched down and spread the parchment on a flat stone. The map, old and stained, showed the main roads, the alternative routes, forgotten villages, and bustling cities. Her finger glided along the line that marked the royal road.

"If we go this way"—she pointed to the main line that ran north—"it will be twenty days' travel, not counting delays due to weather, terrain, or… unforeseen circumstances." There are cities every three or four days' march.

The princess approached, her veil fluttering slightly in the breeze. Her voice was firm but sharp:

"The fewer stops, the better. I need to get to Azalith as quickly as possible."

Irelia, until then silent, crossed her arms. "You speak as if we were machines." She tapped her fingertip against the stone. "Even if we bypass the cities, we'll still need to rest, eat, change the horses' shoes. We're human. And so are you."

The princess's gaze hardened. "What I need is to get there. The rest is in your hands."

Her answer hung in the air like a blade. Sylphie looked away, returning to the map. Amelia, leaning against a tree, sighed deeply and nodded silently, as if acknowledging there wasn't much to discuss with someone so impatient and burdened.

Kael, for his part, remained impassive. Only then did he approach, leaning over the map.

"Cities are risky." He pointed to three points marked in red. "Inns, markets, crowded streets… every step in such a place is an invitation for the wrong eyes to find us. Hunting is safer."

Sylphie frowned. "But hunting takes time. What if luck doesn't help? We won't survive twenty days of poor hunting alone."

Kael looked up at her, the weight in his eyes enough to silence arguments. "Luck has nothing to do with it."

Irelia bit her lip, dissatisfied. "Still, we can't avoid every city. We'll need basic supplies: salt, ropes, maybe even medicine. You know that."

Amelia, until then merely observing, finally spoke, her voice thick with irony: "You speak as if we have a choice. If it's up to her"—she inclined her head toward the princess—"we'll march until we drop dead on the ground."

The princess stared at her, but didn't answer. Her silence was more eloquent than any words: she didn't care how exhausted they were, as long as she reached her destination.

Kael straightened and looked directly at the princess. "We are not your disposable tools. If you wish to reach Azalith alive, you will have to trust us to set the pace."

For a moment, it seemed she would retort. But then she took a deep breath, and the rigidity in her face softened slightly.

"Trust…" she murmured. "Easy words. Hard to practice."

Sylphie returned to the map, her voice calm but tense. "There are three cities we can completely bypass. It would only increase our risk. But two of them…" she tapped her finger on different points, "we will probably have to enter. One is eight days away. The other, fifteen. If we only refuel at those two points, it will be less dangerous."

Irelia nodded, still disgruntled. "As long as we hunt and ration enough, it could work."

Amelia raised a hand, as if to end the discussion. "Then it's decided. We hunt, avoid unnecessary towns, and only enter the two we really need."

Kael crossed his arms, watching everyone in silence. Then, after a few seconds, he stated firmly:

"So it shall be."

The princess looked away to the horizon, her eyes shining under the moon. "As long as we reach Azalith, the route doesn't matter."

The wind blew, cold, carrying the weight of her words. There was something in that tone—an urgency, a silent pain she didn't reveal.

Kael noticed but didn't comment. Instead, he took the map from Sylphie, folded it, and put it away.

"We rest here for four hours. Then we move on."

Irelia protested. "Only four hours?"

"That's enough." His tone closed the subject.

Sylphie wrapped her cloak around herself, trying to ward off the chill. Amelia simply lay back against the tree, closing her eyes without complaint.

The princess remained standing for a moment longer, staring at the road as if she were seeing ghosts. When he finally sat down, it was silent, keeping his distance from them.

Kael didn't lie down. He kept watch, his sword resting at his side.

…

Morning arrived shrouded in mist. The sun, still timid, barely managed to penetrate the thick curtain that covered the path. The ground was damp, each step of the horses made a muffled sound, and the group's breathing mingled with the chill of the air.

Kael was the first to rise, as always. He didn't even seem tired, despite not having slept all night. Silently, he gathered up his sword, straightened his cloak, and began to examine the surrounding terrain. Nothing but the distant rustling of crows.

"Let's go." His voice echoed firmly, waking those still struggling against the weight of sleep.

Amelia mumbled something incomprehensible, but stood up, adjusting her messy braid. Sylphie, now awake, was rolling up the map again and carefully putting it away in her backpack. Irelia simply stood silently, her expression as serious as ever.

The princess, in turn, rose with the coachman's help. Her gaze was fixed on the horizon, and there was no trace of fatigue in her expression—only an almost grim obstinacy.

They set off.

The road they followed was narrow, winding between hills covered in undergrowth. Silence prevailed, interrupted only by the occasional creak of the carriage and the rhythmic pounding of hooves.

Amelia was the first to break the silence:

"Twenty days, huh?" she said, kicking a stone away. "I bet in less than five we'll be ready to rip each other's heads off."

"Don't bet," Irelia retorted dryly. "I can bring that time forward myself."

Amelia arched an eyebrow in amusement. "Always so welcoming."

Sylphie, trying to lighten the mood, forced a smile. "Perhaps silence is best, for now. We're still too far from safety."

Kael didn't speak. He walked ahead, alert, as if every bush might hide an enemy.

Hours passed, and the sun finally broke through the mist, revealing a clear, deep blue sky. The heat, though slight, was beginning to take hold, making the march more exhausting.

Around noon, Kael raised his hand, ordering a halt.

"Rest. Fifteen minutes."

Amelia snorted. "Generous, as always."

Kael ignored her. Instead, he turned to Sylphie. "Water?"

She pulled the waterskin from her backpack, assessing its weight. "We still have enough for two days, if we ration."

"Then we ration."

The princess, who had been watching silently, finally spoke:

"The faster we walk, the less time we'll need to ration."

Irelia stared at her, exasperated. "And if we pass out from exhaustion in the middle of the road, who will carry her?"

The princess kept her gaze steady, unblinking. "That won't be necessary."

Kael intervened curtly: "Enough. Let's continue."

Before they could resume the road, he removed his bow from his back and pointed to the slope to the right. "We need meat. Wait here."

Without explaining, he disappeared into the trees.

Amelia threw herself into the grass, crossing her arms behind her head. "He always disappears like this. One day he'll come back dragging a bear just to shut us up."

Sylphie adjusted her hood, looking toward the forest. "He's good at what he does."

"Good is an understatement," Irelia replied seriously. "He survived where many of us wouldn't survive a day."

The princess tilted her head slightly, gauging the three of them's reactions. "You speak of him as if he were more than a man."

Amelia laughed. "More than a man? I don't know. Less human, perhaps."

Sylphie scolded her, but didn't respond.

Time passed slowly until the sound of footsteps emerged from the forest again. Kael reappeared, carrying two rabbits and a young deer on his shoulders. The blood was still fresh, and his expression remained unchanged, as if he had simply gathered firewood.

"We'll roast some tonight. The rest will be dried and stored."

Amelia stood, impressed. "In less than twenty minutes?"

"I don't waste time."

The group returned to the road, and the day wore on. The presence of the freshly hunted meat brought some relief, but it also reinforced their dependence on Kael. The princess watched him carefully, as if weighing his every gesture in her mind.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky orange and gold, the road led them to a narrow valley where ancient trees cast long shadows. The spot seemed safe enough to spend the night.

Kael ordered a halt, and everyone began to organize. Sylphie gathered dry branches, Amelia sharpened her dagger, Irelia set up the makeshift tent. The princess, however, remained still, watching the crackling fire Kael had lit.

As the meat began to roast, the smell spread through the camp. Amelia closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "Ah... finally something decent to eat."

Sylphie, eating more slowly, looked at the princess. "Aren't you going to help yourself?"

She hesitated for a moment, but took a piece of meat. Her movements were delicate, almost ceremonial, and for some reason that caught Kael's attention.

"You don't seem used to eating like this," he commented.

The princess looked up at him, and for a moment, her expression broke. "I'm used to eating surrounded by people who pretend not to hate me. This is... different."

Silence fell.

Amelia was the first to laugh, trying to break the tension. "Well, then welcome to the most sincere table of your life."

The princess almost smiled, but restrained herself.

The night wore on. One by one, the members of the group gave in to fatigue. Only Kael remained awake, sitting by the fire, his hand steady on the hilt of his sword.

The princess, still awake, approached him. The flame illuminated her delicate features, but there was a hardness in her eyes.

"Do you really never sleep?" she asked.