Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Into the Unknown

The morning began quietly.

A thin layer of mist covered the fields surrounding the village, while the first rays of sunlight slowly appeared beyond the hills.

Kyle opened the clinic door and stepped outside.

Something felt wrong.

He looked toward the western road.

Nothing.

Only an empty path stretching between the trees.

Yet the uneasy feeling remained.

Behind him, Lyra placed several medicine jars on the shelf.

"You've been looking outside for a while."

Kyle turned.

"I thought I saw someone."

"Someone?"

He shook his head.

"Probably nothing."

Lyra walked toward the window and looked outside.

Her expression changed slightly.

"What is it?"

She pointed toward the western road.

"There."

Kyle narrowed his eyes.

A small branch near the edge of the forest was moving.

But there was no wind.

He stepped outside.

Lyra followed.

They walked toward the road, but by the time they reached the trees, whoever had been there was gone.

Kyle crouched beside the ground.

There were footprints.

Fresh ones.

Lyra's heart tightened.

"Those weren't there yesterday."

Kyle examined them carefully.

"You're right."

He stood slowly.

"They're not from villagers."

Lyra looked toward the forest.

"Do you think those riders came back?"

"I don't know."

Kyle remained silent for a moment.

Then he noticed something else.

A broken piece of black thread caught on a branch.

He pulled it free.

"This wasn't left by accident."

Lyra stared at it.

The fear she had been trying to suppress finally became impossible to ignore.

Someone was watching the village.

And now...

They had proof.

Kyle folded the thread into his palm.

"We should tell the village elder."

Lyra nodded.

But before they could turn back...

A distant howl echoed from deep inside the forest.

Both of them froze.

It wasn't the sound of an ordinary wolf.

Lyra felt one of her hidden jewels grow warm.

Very warm.

She instinctively placed her hand over it.

Kyle noticed.

"Lyra?"

She quickly lowered her hand.

"...We shouldn't stay here."

Kyle looked toward the dark forest.

For once...

He agreed without asking why.

Kyle and Lyra returned to the village without speaking.

The broken black thread remained hidden inside Kyle's hand.

Neither of them wanted to alarm the villagers before they understood what was happening.

As soon as they reached the clinic, Kyle placed the thread on the table.

Lyra stared at it.

"Do you think it's from one of the riders?"

"Maybe."

Kyle picked it up again.

"The fabric is expensive."

"More expensive than anything the villagers usually wear."

Lyra remained silent.

Kyle noticed.

"You know something."

She looked at him.

"...I know that whoever left it wasn't looking for herbs."

Kyle's expression became serious.

"Then what were they looking for?"

Lyra hesitated.

She couldn't tell him.

Not yet.

Before she could answer, the clinic door opened.

Lumi entered carrying a basket of bread.

"Good morning!"

She stopped when she saw their expressions.

"What happened?"

Kyle quickly covered the thread with his hand.

"Nothing."

Lumi narrowed her eyes.

"That doesn't look like nothing."

Lyra forced a smile.

"We found some strange footprints near the western road."

Lumi's smile disappeared.

"Footprints?"

Kyle nodded.

"Probably travelers."

"Then why do you both look worried?"

Kyle sighed.

"Because we don't know who they belong to."

Lumi placed the basket on the table.

"Should we tell Mother?"

"We should tell the village elder first."

Before anyone could say more...

A loud bell rang from the center of the village.

Once.

Twice.

Then a third time.

Everyone outside stopped what they were doing.

Lumi rushed to the door.

"That's the warning bell."

Kyle immediately stood.

"What happened?"

A villager came running down the road.

"Someone found strange tracks near the northern fields!"

Kyle and Lyra exchanged a glance.

Northern fields...

That meant the strangers were moving around the village.

The hunter wasn't simply passing through.

He was searching.

Kyle grabbed his medical bag.

"I'm going to the elder."

Lyra nodded.

"I'll come with you."

Lumi quickly stepped forward.

"I'm coming too."

Kyle shook his head.

"No."

"Stay here."

"But—"

"Someone needs to remain at the clinic."

Lumi reluctantly nodded.

As Kyle and Lyra walked away...

She watched them disappear down the road.

She didn't know why...

But for the first time since Lyra had arrived...

Lumi felt afraid that her friend might not come back.

Far beyond the village...

A man stood between the trees.

He watched Kyle and Lyra disappear toward the village square.

His eyes narrowed.

"So..."

"The healer is always beside her."

He turned away from the village.

"I need to know why."

And somewhere deeper in the forest...

The hunter waited patiently.

The village elder was waiting in the square when Kyle and Lyra arrived.

Several villagers had gathered around him, speaking in worried voices.

"What did you find?" Kyle asked.

The elder pointed toward the northern fields.

"Three sets of footprints."

"All from horses."

Kyle frowned.

"How recent?"

"Fresh."

Lyra looked toward the road.

"Did anyone see the riders?"

A farmer raised his hand.

"I did."

"They stopped near my field before sunrise."

"What did they want?" Kyle asked.

The farmer shook his head.

"They didn't speak to me."

"They only watched the village."

A murmur spread through the crowd.

The elder raised his hand, silencing everyone.

"We don't know who they are."

"But we know they aren't ordinary travelers."

Kyle looked at Lyra.

She was staring toward the forest.

"What do you think?" he asked quietly.

Lyra hesitated.

"I think..."

"We should leave."

Kyle looked surprised.

"Leave?"

"Only for a short time."

She lowered her voice.

"If they're searching for someone..."

"And they believe that person is here..."

"Staying in the village could put everyone in danger."

Kyle remained silent.

The idea of leaving the village unsettled him.

His clinic.

His patients.

Lumi and her family.

Everything he had built was here.

But Lyra's expression told him that her fear was real.

The elder stepped closer.

"You two should be careful."

"If these strangers are looking for something valuable, they may become desperate."

Kyle nodded.

"I understand."

As the villagers slowly returned to their homes, Kyle remained standing beside Lyra.

"You really think we should leave?"

Lyra looked at him.

"Only until the danger passes."

"And where would we go?"

She looked toward the distant mountains.

"There are old paths beyond the western forest."

"Few people use them."

Kyle studied her face.

"You know those paths?"

Lyra realized her mistake.

She quickly corrected herself.

"I've heard about them."

Kyle didn't press her.

Instead, he looked toward the clinic.

"Then we need supplies."

Lyra nodded.

"Medicine."

"Food."

"Water."

"And enough blankets for several nights."

Kyle gave a faint smile.

"You've already planned everything."

"I had to."

For the first time that morning...

Kyle smiled.

"Alright."

"We'll prepare."

Far away, hidden among the trees...

The hunter watched the village elder leave the square.

One of his men approached.

"Should we enter the village?"

The hunter shook his head.

"Not yet."

"What if they leave?"

"Then we follow them."

His eyes remained fixed on the clinic.

"The girl is afraid."

"And fear makes people reveal where they intend to go."

He turned toward the forest.

"Let them make the first move."

The sun was beginning to set when Kyle returned to the clinic.

He closed the door behind him and immediately began gathering supplies.

Lyra stood beside the shelves, choosing only the medicines they might actually need.

"How long do you think we'll be gone?" she asked.

"I don't know."

Kyle placed several bandages inside a leather bag.

"Perhaps two days."

"Maybe three."

Lyra nodded.

"Then we shouldn't take too much."

Kyle looked at her.

"You've done this before."

She froze for a moment.

"...I learned from my grandmother."

Kyle smiled.

"Your grandmother seems to have prepared you for everything."

Lyra lowered her eyes.

"I wish she were here."

The words escaped before she could stop them.

Kyle didn't ask questions.

Instead, he quietly placed another small medicine pouch into her hands.

"Then take this."

"For what?"

"For the things she might have given you herself."

Lyra looked at the pouch.

A warm feeling spread through her chest.

"Thank you."

A knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Both of them turned.

It was Lumi.

She entered carrying a small bundle of clothes.

"Mother packed these for you."

"For me?"

Lyra accepted them.

Lumi nodded.

"If you're leaving, you need something warm."

Kyle frowned.

"You know about our plan?"

"Of course I do."

"You two aren't very good at keeping secrets."

Kyle sighed.

"We may only be gone for a few days."

Lumi looked at him seriously.

"Come back."

Kyle smiled.

"I promise."

She turned toward Lyra.

"You too."

Lyra's smile softened.

"I promise."

Lumi left.

For a moment, the clinic became completely silent.

Kyle looked around the room.

The shelves filled with herbs.

The wooden table where he had treated countless villagers.

The small window overlooking the road.

Leaving suddenly felt much harder than he had expected.

Lyra noticed his expression.

"You don't have to leave."

Kyle looked at her.

"If I stay..."

"You might be in danger."

He picked up his bag.

"Then I have to go."

Lyra stared at him quietly.

She had spent so long searching for someone from her own kind.

Yet now...

The thought of leaving this human healer frightened her more than the thought of entering the forest.

Kyle opened the door.

"Ready?"

Lyra nodded.

"Yes."

They stepped outside.

The village was already preparing for the night.

Neither of them noticed the shadow standing far beyond the last house.

The hunter watched them leave.

He didn't follow.

Not yet.

He simply waited until Kyle and Lyra disappeared along the western road.

Then he smiled faintly.

"So..."

"They're leaving."

He mounted his horse.

"Follow them."

The journey had finally begun.

And this time...

Kyle and Lyra were walking directly toward the danger they had been trying to escape.