Star guided his cart along the winding dirt road, the hood of his dark cloak pulled low over his face. Two days had passed since he left the Harlan family’s camp, and the steady rhythm of travel was slowly becoming familiar. The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled light on the path ahead. The two horses snorted softly as they walked, their hooves kicking up small clouds of dust.

He kept the cloak on at all times now. The hood hid most of his silver hair and delicate features. It wasn’t perfect, but it gave him a sense of safety.

[You’re getting the hang of this solo life,] Jezebel said, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. [But if you want to survive the road ahead, you’re due for another strong skill soon. Something useful when things get... messy.]

"What could possibly go wrong?"

[A whole lot]

Star kept his eyes on the road. "If I find a suitable candidate, I’ll know what to do, i can’t just continue with lower ranked skills is not worth it."

[Good thinking]

He didn’t push the conversation further. Instead, he pulled the cart off the main path into a quiet meadow when the sun was high. After making sure no one was around, he lowered his hood and stepped away from the cart.

"Graceful Phantom Step."

He said in quietness of the green like he did every afternoon since the day before. He had decided to train his body to adjust to his powers and constant practice was one of it.

His body moved like flowing water. He dashed across the grass in elegant bursts, leaving faint silver afterimages behind him. Each movement felt smoother than the last. He practiced for nearly an hour, enjoying the simple freedom of it — the wind in his hair, the lightness in his steps, the way his cloak fluttered like wings when he moved.

As he stopped to catch his breath, a memory suddenly surfaced.

He was back in the Harlan family’s tent that morning. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Kell had been staring at him when he woke up. The moment their eyes met, Kell jolted and quickly pulled a blanket over his lap, face burning red.

"Good morning," Star had said softly.

Kell looked mortified. "G-good morning! Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare..."

Later, before Star departed, Kell had approached him shyly, holding a small cloth bag.

"Here," Kell said, blushing. "I plucked some fresh fruits for you this morning. For the road."

Mira had smiled warmly. "Take care of yourself out there."

The memory faded.

Star stood still in the meadow for a moment, a small, bittersweet smile forming under the hood. That night with the Harlans had been one of the first times he felt truly seen as a person, not just a beautiful prize.

He shook his head gently and pulled the hood lower.

[Missing them already?] Jezebel asked, her tone unusually gentle.

"A little," Star admitted. "It was nice... feeling normal for once."

He pulled the hood back up and continued onward.

By late afternoon, he reached the small roadside village of Oakrest. The streets were lively with locals closing up shops and travelers looking for inns. Star kept the cloak on, hood low, hiding most of his face. No one paid him any special attention. He tied the horses near a stable, paid for feed, and found a quiet corner in a modest inn called The Rusty Lantern.

He ate a simple meal of bread, cheese, and soup without speaking to anyone. The conversations around him drifted past rumors of monster sightings on the eastern roads, complaints about rising bandit activity, and traders talking about good prices in the next town. No one disturbed him. The cloak did its job well.

After eating, he paid for a room upstairs and went to bed early. Before sleeping, he whispered, "Radiant Veil Sanctuary." A faint pink-silver barrier expanded around the room, invisible to others. He slept soundly that night.

The next morning, he continued east, hoping he didn’t come in contact with any bandits because it would become an inconvinence.

The road grew quieter. Fields slowly gave way to thicker forests. Star kept the hood up, enjoying the solitude. He stopped again at midday in another quiet clearing and practiced Graceful Phantom Step once more, moving between the trees like a silver ghost. The movements were becoming more natural to him.

As evening approached, he set up camp in a small clearing off the main road. He built a modest fire, fed the horses, and ate preserved rations while watching the stars slowly appear one by one in the darkening sky.

Everything felt peaceful.

He reinforced the Radiant Veil of Sanctuary like he always did around his campsite, making sure it covered the cart and horses as well. Then he lay down in his tent, staring up at the canvas ceiling.

[You’ve come quite far in such a short time,] Jezebel said gently. [From a frightened damse in a Goblin King’s lair to someone traveling alone across Aetheria. How does it feel?]

Star thought for a long moment.

"Free," he whispered. "But also... small. Like the world is much bigger than I thought."

He closed his eyes, listening to the quiet sounds of the night — crickets, distant owl calls, the soft breathing of the horses.

Sometime later, he heard the faint sound of horse hooves on the road. Through a small gap in the tent, he saw the flicker of torchlight moving past in the distance. A group of riders — maybe five or six — continued on without stopping.

Star watched them for a few seconds, then turned over in his bedroll.

Just other travelers, he thought, dismissing the unease. The road is busy. It’s normal.

He pulled the blanket higher and let sleep take him again, completely oblivious to the fact that those riders had slowed down further ahead, speaking in low voices about a "silver-haired beauty" rumored to be traveling this exact route.

Now who gave up this information? Were the Harlans not allies afterall?