The group stood together in silence for a moment, unsure of where their journey would take them next.
Despite everything that had happened, the most important thing was that they were alive.
They sat in a circle on the cold forest floor while Levi explained everything that had happened.
Just as he was about to tell them about his conversation with the mysterious woman, he suddenly heard her voice whisper in his ear.
“You can’t tell them that. I’d hate to erase their memories.”
Levi froze for a brief moment.
Instead of telling them everything, he only explained the basics.
“There is something else,” Levi said after a long pause.
“Carter has been acting strange lately. I’m not sure what he’s thinking… but I still want to believe in him.”
“I know you do,” Carmen replied softly, “but we should still be cautious.”
Olivia silently nodded in agreement.
Levi then told his sisters about the money the Godmother had given him and the birthday gifts his father had left behind.
The twins’ eyes lit up.
For the first time in a long while, they didn’t have to worry about starving or wondering where they would sleep next.
“Keep everything a secret for now,” Levi said seriously.
“Until I figure out what’s going on with Carter, no one else can know.”
Although Levi wanted to trust Carter, something about the situation felt wrong.
His instincts rarely failed him.
He had learned long ago that hope was important—but so was caution.
Olivia quietly erased everyone’s memories of Levi speaking with the mysterious woman.
Instead, she planted a much simpler memory.
They remembered laughing together beside the truck while Levi gathered his thoughts.
When everyone woke up, they naturally had questions, but Levi and the twins easily brushed them aside with believable excuses.
Only three people truly remembered what had happened.
Levi.
Carmen.
And Olivia.
The group climbed back into their old, beat-up truck and headed toward District Three, where the Godmother’s headquarters was located.
Everyone deserved a chance to rest.
When the others asked where he got the money, Levi simply smiled.
“I sold a rare monster weapon to the Godmother.”
No one questioned him.
They were simply relieved that, for once, they would be sleeping in real beds instead of on the cold forest ground.
By the time they arrived, night had already fallen.
Something immediately felt wrong.
The inn was nearly empty.
Only a handful of servants remained.
Normally, the place was filled with merchants, mercenaries, truck drivers, and travelers from every district.
Tonight…
It was almost silent.
Levi frowned.
“Where is everyone?”
One of the servants bowed politely.
“I’m not entirely sure. The Godmother left to meet someone, and she took many of her people with her.”
Levi’s expression darkened.
That didn’t sound like her.
The Godmother had one rule she constantly reminded him about.
Never conduct business at night.
Nighttime in the Dryland belonged to the monsters.
Once darkness fell, visibility became nearly impossible.
You couldn’t even see your own hand in front of your face.
Strange monsters that rarely appeared during the day wandered freely through the land, regardless of district or danger level.
If the Godmother had broken her own rule…
Then whatever called her away had to be serious.
Levi pushed his concerns aside.
There wasn’t anything he could do until she returned.
“We need three rooms.”
“Of course.”
Levi paid for five nights using the credit card the Godmother had given him.
Food wasn’t included, but that didn’t matter.
Each room had two clean beds with soft blankets.
To people who had spent months sleeping on rocks, dirt, and truck floors…
It felt like luxury.
Everyone hurried upstairs carrying their bags, laughing and talking excitedly.
Levi smiled as he watched them.
Seeing everyone happy made every credit worth spending.
Levi, however, was exhausted.
His body ached.
His mind was even worse.
Questions kept racing through his thoughts.
The mysterious woman.
Carter.
The Vanguard.
His father’s gifts.
Everything felt connected somehow, but he couldn’t see the whole picture.
He didn’t even bother taking a shower.
He collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep almost instantly.
Meanwhile, the others enjoyed themselves.
They took long, hot showers.
They laughed over warm meals.
They ate until they couldn’t eat anymore, knowing they had no idea when they would enjoy another feast like this.
For one peaceful night…
They were finally able to forget, if only for a little while, that survival ruled every day of their lives.