Chapter 431 An Empty Road to a City Without Promise — Leaving Ravenhull
Morning in Ravenhull isn't about light.
It's about the colors that are held back—the muted orange trapped behind the fog, and the bell tower's chime that never seems to ring on time. Joanna and Rui stand at the eastern city gate, their bags light, yet their steps weighed down.
In her mind, Joanna recalls the warm moments in Ravenhull, where every corner of the city holds sweet and bitter memories she longs to remember and forget. She remembers her laughter echoing among the ruins, and how sunlight touched her face as they spent time in the garden surrounded by wildflowers. Stories swirl, deepening the ache of parting.
There were no farewell hugs.
No names calling from the windows.
Ravenhull was a place that gave them space to breathe... but not a place to grow.
"So... where are we going?" Rui asked, squinting toward the north.
"Wherever the road hasn't erased us," Joanna replied.
They walked through the Silean Forest, where the trees stood like ancient temple pillars. The leaves were a cold, purplish gray, and the branches did not shed dew—rather, they cast strange fragments of light like snow from long-dead stars, creating an eerie and mysterious atmosphere.
Joanna could feel the mysterious aura enveloping the forest. Every step they took brought a whispering breeze, as if the forest itself had stories to tell, secrets waiting to be revealed to those brave enough to listen. Her curiosity grew as they continued their journey.
It was here that they paused for a moment.