Chapter 10: Dealing with unknowns
After four grueling hours on horseback, they finally broke free from the dense forest. The moment Ren's eyes landed on the vast expanse before her, she forgot how to breathe. Her lips parted, stunned into silence. Before she could gather herself, Kaisun leaned close, his warm breath ghosting against her ear.
"Welcome to the Moon Valley, Thegara's capital."
Her heart pounded wildly as her gaze swept over the rolling hills, a sea of vibrant wildflowers swaying under the golden light. The air carried the scent of earth and blooming flora, a stark contrast to the damp musk of the forest they had just left behind. Towering mountains stood in the distance, their snow-capped peaks gleaming like silent sentinels. It was breathtaking—untouched and surreal as if carved from a dream.
"This is... unbelievable," she whispered.
Kaisun chuckled, the sound deep and knowing. "Yes, Doe-eyes. What did you expect?"
Well, the answer was: A barren wasteland. That was what she had been told. A desolate land of monstrous beasts lurking in endless deserts, stripped of trees, rivers, or life. But this... this was alive. Lush. Thriving. Every warning she had ever received now seemed like a cruel lie.
As they descended the hills, her eyes landed on a winding river, its crystal surface glimmering under the sun. A stone bridge arched elegantly over it, connecting both sides of the valley. Just as they neared the crossing, movement flickered at the edge of her vision. She stiffened.
A pack of massive wolves emerged from the thickets, their silent forms slipping into place around them, forming an escort. Their eyes glowed, watching, assessing. Her pulse quickened, yet to her amazement, the horses remained unfazed, their pace unbroken.
Lifting her gaze, she caught sight of the castle perched atop a mountain—a vast, imposing structure with spires piercing the heavens. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. A fortress of stone, grand and impenetrable.
She pressed her lips shut, fighting the overwhelming urge to gawk. This wasn't her home. This marriage wasn't real—Kaisun had made that clear. She had no right to feel in awe of this place. No right to think of it as hers.
The city gates loomed ahead, and her heartbeat thundered as she spotted the massive crowd gathered beyond them. The townsfolk parted, making way for their ruler, but it wasn't their sheer numbers that unsettled, she panted, it was who they were.