The carriage rolled steadily through the rugged mountain pass.
Justus sat on the wooden roof of the coach, one leg dangling over the edge as the wind whipped through his dark hair.
Daemon sat beside him, his heavy rifle resting across his knees.
Neither of them had spoken for several minutes.
Finally, Daemon broke the silence over the rhythmic clatter of the wheels.
“You’re really going to keep that thing?”
Justus held up his right hand, turning the cold metal emblem over between his fingers.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because someone was looking for me.”
Daemon frowned.
“That’s exactly why you shouldn’t keep it.”
Justus brought the emblem closer, examining the sharp geometry of the crown and four points.
“The symbol looks familiar.”
Daemon’s eyebrow twitched.
“You’ve seen it before?”
“No.” Justus stared at the steel surface.
“But I’ve seen something similar.”
“Where?”
“On the papers back at Eldermere when I destroyed one of the guardian posts.”
Daemon’s relaxed posture instantly stiffened.
“The Guardians?”
Justus nodded slowly.
“Maybe.”
Daemon leaned back against the luggage rack, letting out a heavy breath.
“Then we should get rid of it right now.”
Justus closed his fingers around the emblem, his grip tightening.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if they’re looking for me, I want to know why.”
Daemon sighed, shaking his head.
“You really enjoy making things as difficult as possible, don’t you?”
Justus allowed a sharp smile.
“You knew that already.”
The carriage eventually came to a slow halt at a mountain junction.
The client stepped down from the wooden cabin, adjusting his thick leather coat.
“We’re here.”
Justus jumped down from the roof, landing lightly on the frozen dirt.
Daemon hopped down right behind him, scanning their surroundings.
The mountain road opened up into a secluded, fog-draped settlement tucked right against the sheer cliffside.
A weathered wooden sign hung near the narrow entrance, creaking in the wind.
RAVEN’S PASS.
Daemon eyed the sign critically.
“This wasn’t on the regional map.”
The client turned toward him, a faint smirk touching his lips.
“It isn’t supposed to be.”
Justus frowned, crossing his arms.
“What does that mean?”
“Only people who know the proper route come here,” the man said simply.
Daemon’s eyes narrowed.
Every instinct he had was screaming.
Justus picked up on his companion’s tension immediately.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Daemon muttered under his breath, keeping his eyes on the shadowed rooftops of the settlement.
“Something feels wrong.”
Justus shrugged casually.
“You said that back in the ravine, too.”
“And I was right.”
Justus stepped closer to the client, his crimson eyes locking onto the man.
“Why did you bring us here?”
The man’s smirk faded.
“Because I needed escorts.”
“To here?”
“Yes.”
Justus folded his arms tighter, his voice dropping slightly.
“You’re hiding something.”
The man stared at Justus for a long, heavy moment.
Then, unexpectedly, he let out a short laugh.
“You’re smarter than you look.”
Daemon muttered under his breath, “Don’t encourage him.”
The client reached into his thick coat.
Justus’s hand instinctively drifted toward Gryphon’s hilt.
“Relax,” the man said quickly, raising both hands before pulling out a heavy leather pouch.
Coins clinked loudly inside.
He tossed the pouch through the air.
Justus caught it easily, untying the string to glance inside.
His eyes widened slightly.
“This is way more than we agreed on.”
“I know.”
Justus looked up.
“Why?”
The man turned his head, glancing back down the winding ravine road they had just crossed.
“Because I owe you.”
Justus frowned.
“For what?”
“For surviving.”
Daemon stared at the man.
“What?”
The client turned toward the mouth of Raven’s Pass without another word.
“Forget I said anything.” He walked away with his carriage, disappearing between the shadowed wooden buildings.
Justus watched his retreating back.
“That’s weird.”
Daemon nodded grimly.
“Very.”
They left Raven’s Pass before sunset, taking the higher trail leading further north.
Justus counted the golden coins in his hand as they walked.
“We can buy a ship with this.”
Daemon shook his head.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“We need winter supplies first.”
“Then a ship.”
“Then a ship.”
Justus smiled.
“Good.”
They continued along the rocky incline.
After a while, Daemon spoke up again, his tone serious.
“There’s something I don’t understand.”
“What?”
“That man.”
“What about him?”
“He knew you,” Daemon said.
Justus stopped walking.
Daemon kept going a step further before pausing.
“He looked at you like he’d heard your name before or someone who knew you well,” Daemon continued, looking back at him.
Justus frowned, looking down at his boots.
“Maybe he does.”
“From where?”
“I don’t know.”
Daemon stared at him.
“Exactly.”
Justus brushed it off with a quick breath, stepping forward again.
“We’ll find out sooner or later but for now I don’t care much.”
Night fell fast in the high altitude.
They set up camp beneath a massive, snow-covered pine tree.
Daemon built a small fire, the crackling wood casting orange shadows against the dark trunk.
Justus sat opposite him, cross-legged, staring at the metallic emblem resting on the rock between them.
Daemon stared at the symbol.
“Where did you say you’d seen that mark before?”
“On the Guardian post,” Justus murmured.
Daemon nodded slowly.
“Then we need to know what it actually means.”
Justus stared into the flickering flames.
“Maybe Voss knows.”
Daemon let out a dry laugh.
“You want to ask Captain Voss?”
“Why not?”
“He wants to place you in a cell.”
“Exactly.”
Daemon shook his head with a grin.
“You’re truly unbelievable.”
Justus smiled.
“I’ve been told.”
CRUNCH.
A sudden, crisp sound broke from the dark tree line behind them.
Both boys froze instantly.
Daemon’s hand slid quietly down to his rifle stock.
Justus stood up in one fluid motion, his eyes piercing the darkness.
“Who’s there?”
Silence.
Daemon whispered under his breath, “Did you hear that?”
“Yeah.”
SCHWING.
Justus drew Gryphon a few inches from its sheath, the dark blade catching the firelight.
They held their breath, waiting.
Then—
A tiny mountain rabbit darted out from the bushes, scurried across the clearing, and vanished into the brush on the other side.
Total silence returned.
Justus stared at the empty bushes.
Daemon stared.
Justus slowly slid Gryphon back into its sheath with a soft click.
“…A rabbit.”
Daemon let out a long breath, lowering his head into his hand.
“I almost drew my rifle for a rabbit.”
Justus burst out laughing.
“You did!”
“You drew your sword too!”
“I was being careful!”
“You were terrified.”
Justus snapped, “I was NOT terrified!”
Daemon smirked.
“You definitely were.”
Justus sat back down by the fire, crossing his arms with a scowl.
“Shut up.”
They both laughed, the tension melting away into the cold night air.
Neither of them noticed the shadowed figure crouched high in the branches of the pine tree above them.
The stranger’s gloved hand slowly reached into his cloak, activating a small, glowing communication stone.
“Confirmed.”
A static pause echoed from the device, followed by a voice: “Status?”
The scout looked down through the pine needles directly at Justus.
“He’s alive.
Justus Tempest.”
The voice responded immediately.
“Follow him.”
The figure lowered the device.
“Understood.”
The next morning, Justus woke up before the sun fully cleared the peaks.
He stood at the edge of the cliff overlooking the northern highway stretching into the misty valley below.
Far in the distance, the outlines of another massive, fortified town were visible.
Daemon walked up beside him, wrapping a scarf tighter around his neck.
“Is that our next stop?”
Justus nodded.
“Looks like it.”
“What’s it called?”
Justus smiled bright.
“I don’t know.”
Daemon stared at him.
“You didn’t check the map again?”
“Nope.”
Daemon closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Of course you didn’t, I suppose it’s useless coz you’d get us lost anyway.”
Justus laughed, clapping him on the shoulder.
“Come on!”
They kicked dirt over the dying coals of their fire and started down the mountain trail.
Behind them, high in the snow-dusted trees, the Guardian scout watched them vanish down the road.
He touched his communication device again.
“They’re moving further north.”
The voice on the other end answered instantly.
“Keep following.”
“And if they discover me?”
There was a brief, heavy silence over the transmission.
Then: “Don’t let them.”
The scout lowered his hand, his cold eyes fixed on the two figures in the distance.
“Understood.”
Far ahead, the road stretched deeper into the frozen territory.
And with every step Justus took…
the Guardians were right behind him.
EXPLANATION:
Raven’s Pass: An unmapped mountain settlement used for hidden trade and off-the-grid travel.
The Emblem: Features a crown surrounded by four points—linked directly to secret Guardian intelligence operations.
The Guardian Scout: Active surveillance team tracking Justus on Caelum Voss’s orders as he heads further into the Northern territory.
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