Zane's relaxed posture shifted in an instant. He raised the ring to his lips and spoke with sudden formality, "Yes, Master."
Aidan blinked, already guessing who it was.
Matthew's voice came through, calm but firm—the kind that didn't leave room for argument. "Tell Aidan to stop halting the carriage every time you both get hungry. You might not realize it, but every stop causes a ripple in this part of the capital. Let people work."
Zane winced slightly. He glanced sideways at Aidan, who was still chewing the gloomroot. Without a word, they both sighed and spoke in perfect unison: "Understood."
Zane lowered his hand. "Well," he muttered, "there goes my dream of a food tour."
Aidan gave a quiet nod, his gaze drifting once more to the winding streets and stonework of the capital. Laughter echoed faintly from a distant alley, the clatter of boots and wheels blending with the morning bustle. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a quiet promise took root— If I make it out of the Dark Forest alive… I'll come back here. Alone. Just to see it all.
Not as a noble. Not as someone of the Wilson estate. But just… himself.
It took far longer than Aidan had expected. Navigating the capital's streets in the morning wasn't easy—even with guards clearing the way. The roads were packed with merchants, travellers, and citizens going about their day, and progress was slow.
By the time they finally arrived at the teleportation gate nestled in the heart of the capital, Aidan leaned slightly out the window to get a better look. Massive, with towering stone arches and intricate runes etched into its surface, it was clearly one of the largest gates in the entire city.
There were other teleportation points scattered throughout the capital, sure—but this was the one they needed. At least, that's what he'd been told… and honestly, judging by the sheer size and security, he could believe it.
The carriage slowed to a stop before the teleportation gate, and for the first time, Aidan truly took in its shape. The arch wasn't whole—its top split into two curving prongs that reached toward each other, stopping just short, like fingers paused mid-touch.
The stone was jagged and weathered, nothing like the polished structures surrounding it. Runes shimmered faintly along its sides, not carved cleanly but eroded as if they had always existed, merely waiting to be uncovered.
Despite its rough edges, there was something ancient about the gate—something that made it feel less constructed and more unearthed. Like it had been part of the land long before the capital had risen around it.
For some reason, Aidan had a feeling that this structure was meant to be more than just a tool for travel. It felt like a remnant of something greater. A silent monument that remembered things even history forgot.
Zane glanced up at the gate, eyes widening. "Can't believe how big this thing is."
Aidan nodded, his gaze fixed on the towering structure. "Yeah, it's massive… and somehow, it feels older than anything else around here."
Zane glanced at Aidan, then back to the massive gate. There was something about the structure—an uneasy feeling, like staring at something you weren't meant to see.
"True," Zane muttered, his eyes locked on the gate as if it held a secret.
Suddenly, all their thoughts were interrupted by Matthew's voice echoing clearly through all the carriages, including theirs.
"We'll be entering the teleportation gate in a few minutes. Captain Hazel will handle the lead carriage, the middle one is under my custody, and Captain Jerry will oversee the last.Each captain will come by to brief you on what to do and what not to do. So stay calm and wait for instructions."
Zane chuckled, shaking his head. "Seems Master won't be leaving your side anytime soon."
Aidan smiled, the curve of his lips soft, his eyes not fully reaching—but close enough. "I know. After all, he has a responsibility... one given by my mother. To protect me, no matter the cost."
His gaze drifted outside the carriage, lingering on the ancient stones of the teleportation gate—the hum of magic, the faint chatter of soldiers organizing, the rhythm of a world that moved because of, and sometimes for, him.
Aidan sat quietly, eyes fixed on the massive gate ahead. The closer they got, the heavier his chest felt. Once he stepped through, he'd be beyond the borders of the Wilson territory—outside the reach of the place that had shaped him, protected him… held him.
Part of him felt something stir—like meaning, like purpose. But the other part… the other part only felt the quiet ache of leaving something behind.
Not just the estate. Not just the walls and halls he'd grown up in, but also the love that he had yearned for so long.
He did not know if he was going to come back or not, but somewhere it made him feel helpless and lonelier.
Zane's smile faded ever so slightly as his eyes narrowed, studying Aidan. There was something different about him—quiet, almost unreadable. Not wrong exactly, but… changed.
He remembered that moment in the manor, clear as day—Lady Sophia's voice calm, unshakable, as she gave Captain Matthew a command that still echoed in his mind.
"If it comes to it... save my son, even if it sparks a war."
Zane swallowed, the memory tightening in his chest.
Being friends with the future Duke came with a few… unexpected advantages.
Zane's status didn't grant him the right to stand beside Aidan, not by noble standards. But he had been close enough to listen. And that day, in the quiet of the estate, he had heard every word.
"Protect my son, even if it starts a war."
Lady Sophia's voice had been calm—unyielding. It wasn't a request. It was a command.
Those words had lodged themselves deep in Zane's chest, refusing to fade. He'd never heard a mother speak like that before.
Is that what a mother's love sounds like? he had wondered then.
The thought had stirred something in him—something he wasn't prepared for. A question he couldn't answer.
Would my mother have said the same? If she were alive… would she have fought the world for me, too?
Without realizing it, his hand moved to his chest, pressing lightly over his heart.
It was beating faster.
Not from fear. But from something quieter. Sadder.
And maybe… lonelier.
He smiled, similar to Aidan's smile, as his eyes drifted towards outside too.
The carriage turned silent as both the individuals drifted deeper in their thoughts.