Third Person’s POV
Whatever that test entailed, it clearly left behind shadows she hadn’t yet fully escaped.
Without another word, Virelle turned and began walking down the narrow, winding paths that zigzagged into the bowl-shaped valley.
Ethan followed without comnt, his steps light as Velcy and Lucy walked beside him, all of them descending in silence.
As they followed the serpentine trail, Ethan found his thoughts lingering on Virelle’s change in deanor.
Whatever that exam was, it had likely been brutal or perhaps even traumatic and judging by the way she had spoken of it, it was no surprise that many students probably failed to make it to their next year.
Still, he chose not to press her as he knew that if she wished to tell him, she would.
He respected her far too much to force that truth from her lips.
When they finally reached the town below, Ethan’s senses were awash in a strange serenity.
A peaceful calm seeped into his bones, and for the first ti in a long while, he felt a sense of reprieve.
It was like walking into one of the verdant, vivid, and untarnished fantasy worlds from the stories and gas of his previous life.
The quiet beauty of the Sanctum Realm stood in stark contrast to the harsh, blood-drenched lands of the Blood Veil Continent, especially if he considered the Central Red Wastleand and that Dark Devil Abyss that encircled this huge barren mountain.
The forest was alive as its green canopy rustled gently in the wind.
Birds flitted from branch to branch, and distant magical beasts cried softly from the depths.
The blue lake they had seen from above glimred under the llow warmth of the sunlight that was all but absent elsewhere on the continent.
And perhaps most incredible of all, even the spiritual and elental energies here felt calr than the outside.
Ethan could sense it; it was subtle like a sacred breath exhaled by the world itself as it offered peace in exchange for vigilance.
This place... it was different. And for a mont, just a fleeting mont, he allowed himself to believe in sothing other than the ever-present darkness, bloodiness, and the shadows that covered and pervaded every facet of this godforsaken continent.
They followed Virelle, who seed to be walking with a clear sense of purpose, her stride confident and steady.
Ethan noticed the subtle way her eyes scanned her surroundings; it was cool and calculating, just like soone who was far from a stranger here.
Trusting her familiarity with the place, he kept close behind as they descended the winding, snake-like path that carved its way down the slope toward the clustered buildings of the town.
Their route led them to the outskirts, where the structures were fewer and spread out, and there, Virelle stopped in front of the very first building they ca across.
At first glance, it looked unimpressive, an aged, weather-worn two-story house with faded walls, chipped paint, and wooden shutters hanging loosely between two tall trees, giving it the maximum shade possible from the clear sunlight outside.
The place bore no signage or markings, and its dilapidated exterior gave it an air of abandonnt.
Seeing such a place, Ethan raised a brow, and curiosity flickered in his eyes.
Still, without hesitation, Virelle pushed the creaky wooden door open and stepped inside.
Trusting his woman, Ethan followed, though not without sharpening his senses.
His years of battlefield vigilance had embedded in him a near-automatic readiness.
Even in places that seed calm on the surface, the faintest ripple in the air could rouse his guard.
And while everything appeared quiet, his body remained subtly tensed, ready for anything.
As he entered, to his surprise, the inside was anything but decrepit as a warm and cozy atmosphere greeted him, the kind that tugged unexpectedly at the corners of his mories.
The lighting was dim but golden and cast soft shadows on the stone walls, and a mild scent of roasted at and herbs wafted through the air.
Though not luxurious, it felt inviting and authentic.
The wooden beams overhead and the slightly uneven flooring gave it character, like one of those adventurers’ inns he had read about in fantasy novels and gas of his past life.
As they stepped further in, a petite foxgirl maid appeared from behind a counter, her chocolate-brown ears twitching atop her head, and the mont her eyes landed on Virelle, her fluffy brown tail started swishing in excitent while her expression lit up like the sun breaking through the clouds.
A blush blood on her cheeks, and her eyes sparkled with excitent and adoration.
In response, she gave a quick, enthusiastic bow and ran forward, tail swishing behind her.
Seeing the excited fox girl, Virelle’s lips curled into a genuine smile as she reached out and affectionately ruffled the girl’s head, her fingers brushing through the soft fur of her ears.
The foxgirl’s reaction was instant as her long ears twitched with joy while her tail wagged uncontrollably.
"How are you, Suzy? Long ti no see..."
"I am fine, Lady Virelle. I am so happy that you rembered about little ..."
As the girl answered in her sweet voice, their small reunion was broken by the soft thump of Ethan’s approaching footsteps.
The foxgirl paused and tilted her head upward as she finally noticed him.
Her eyes widened slightly, and her parted lips suggested surprise, but before she could say anything, Virelle casually grabbed Ethan’s hand and gently pulled him along as she urged him deeper into the inn with a clear intent not to introduce him to the excited fox girl Suzy.
The maid blinked in confusion but quickly collected herself as her cheeks flushed again, and while bowing to them once more, she followed after them.
Her deanor had noticeably changed as she barely glanced at Velcy and Lucy, who were trailing behind, offering no greeting or acknowledgnt while being lost in thoughts that no one knew.
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