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The narrow tunnel — enveloped by towering dark green leaves — proved to be much trickier to navigate than Adela had anticipated. All her readings about Kolhis in books couldn't prepare her for the reality of this empire. She felt both captivated by the otherworldly nature surrounding her and appalled by the stifling humidity. 1

It was like staying in a hot tub for too long, her lungs were strained, and the fatigue from her sleepless night was building up.

The Lady's trusted dagger — one of the many de Lanark family heirlooms — was always at hand. But it remained unused with Egon around her.

His large gloved hand pushed aside the branches that obstructed their path, always ensuring Adela could pass through without hindrance, never looking back but always waiting until she caught up with him. They were following behind Olga who seemed determined to choose the most challenging route for a foreigner of the empire. 

Adela let out the most frustrated sigh, the outskirts of Arda, the capital of Kolhis, stretched out like a vast expanse of eternal savannahs!

"Hurry up! We don't have all day!" Olga's voice echoed for the twentieth time within an hour, far ahead of Egon and Adela.

"Don't mind her, take your time," Egon said, his fingers idly rolling the cap of the leather water bag he carried. "Here, have some water," he offered again, the second time since their journey to the Healer's hideout began.

In a rather unladylike manner, Adela wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand and then brought the bag to her lips, she took a few grateful sips.

"I can always carry you," Egon offered once more.

She shook her head, the amount of sarcasm she would endure from Olga wasn't worth the momentary comfort. Finishing the last sip of the magically cool water which seemed to retain its freshness, Adela handed the bottle back to Egon, though his hand never released its grip on the water bag.

He took a quick sip before rolling the cap once more, his eyes fixed somewhere behind Adela, much like the first time.

"I wanted to ask you about something," he began when her cheeks heated up.

With a jolt, she realized she had been staring at his lips for too long. Blinking, she quickly refocused her gaze on his eyes.

"Please," she replied, attempting to keep her tone as neutral as possible.

"The falcon from before... Do you think you'll ever be able to put that dark day behind you?" 

Adela's eyes lost their sparkle, and a palpable sorrow resonated in her words. "Kannen is a part of me, a constant presence," she said, her fingers curling around her throat, "I carry his memory with me every passing second."

Egon's face mirrored the weight of her pain. "Others need you too," he gently suggested, his own words appeared to catch him off guard. "You should consider adopting another falcon," he added quickly.

Adela couldn't deny the truth in his words, there were countless animals in need of shelter and care. However, the thought of adopting another falcon felt like dishonoring Kannen's memory. "I cannot share my heart with more than one," she replied with a voice full of conviction.

They walked in silence for some time after that, Adela's footsteps echoing noisily while Egon's steps remained silent upon the ground. She was about to inquire if he could teach her to move with such stealth when Olga's excited voice called out from up ahead.

"We're here, Egon!"

Surprisingly, Egon appeared more nervous than Adela. "Perhaps you should wait outside. He's...," he began but left his thought unfinished.

Adela looked curiously toward the source of the bright light at the end of the tunnel. "I prefer to stay with you,"

Egon let out an exasperated huff before reaching out to seize Adela's hand.

Just as they were about to emerge from the tunnel, their progress came to an abrupt halt when Olga — wearing a bored expression — made her way back towards them.

"Don't bother, he's long gone," Olga declared, crushing Adela's hopes.

"What do you mean, gone?" Egon demanded.

Olga rolled her eyes, "There's a crowd of women at his doorstep. Some of them were weeping, while others were mumbling strange things about a handsome foreigner taking him to a faraway kingdom," Olga explained, her gaze turning serious when she took in Egon's face. "I want to investigate further. I will come back with more news."

With a peculiar gesture, Olga touched her fingertips to her mouth and then to her forehead before disappearing back into the opening beyond the tunnel.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Adela's hopes revived. She looked up at Egon with a bright smile on her face. "It must be Claude!" 

Egon's eyes shimmered dangerously. "How can you be so nonchalant?"

Adela blinked momentarily, "Claude is someone I trust with my life. Why would he take the Healer anywhere else when he can help my father in his time of need?"

Egon seemed wounded by her words. "What if he took him to manipulate you, to force you onto a certain path?"

"What path are you talking about?!" Adela's frustration was palpable.

"Figure it out for yourself," he replied with a grunt.

"Fine!" Adela snapped, turning away and walking in the opposite direction.

Like a phantom of the tropical forest, Egon materialized before her, "Where are you going?" His voice was too calm.

"To the shipyard and then to Destan,"

Adela declared proudly before walking past him, but Egon swiftly grasped her arm, forcing her to turn around, "I brought you here, and I will bring you back,"

They glared at each other for a long moment, his eyebrows were raised in a threatening manner while her expression slowly turned into one of anguish.

"I'm not going to Lanark without my father!" She cried.

The fire in his eyes dimmed down, "Our agreement remains unchanged. I will take you to Destan so that both of us can witness the truth about the Healer's fate. Perhaps then, you will finally open your eyes,"

He turned his back on her, preparing to walk in the same direction Olga had come from.

Curiosity tinged her voice as she called after him, "Where are you going?"

"To confirm everything Olga said with my own eyes," Egon replied as he strode away.

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