14-The Beginning of Difficult Roads

Night deepened, slowly.

But this was not an ordinary night.

Everything inside the house now served a purpose.
Even the small scratches on the table seemed more distinct, as if they were being seen for the last time.
Even the silence of the walls felt different.

Temporary.

When Theo opened the bag, even the sound of the fabric was clear.

Folded cloths, small pouches, dried food…
Each was placed carefully, one by one.

The weight was balanced.
Anything unnecessary was set aside without hesitation.

Rain was slower.

But more precise.

She picked up each weapon one by one.

The balance of the daggers…
The weight of the sword…
The way the spear's parts fit together…

Everything was checked.

At one point, she stopped.

She held the sword in her hand.

For a long time.

Before…

She wouldn't have even thought before lifting it.

Now she did.

Then she slowly put it back.

This wasn't hesitation.

It was a boundary.

As the night went on, the sounds inside the house faded.

As the preparations neared completion…

Silence returned.

But this time…

It wasn't full.

Near morning, the final checks were made.

They stood by the door.

Rain looked inside one last time.

Not at the details.

At the whole.

This place was just a place now.

She closed the door.

She didn't lock it.

And they walked.

The city had not yet awakened.

The sky hovered somewhere between deep blue and gray.
There was light, but it wasn't clear.

Their steps were slow.

But steady.

The streets were empty.

Doors closed.

Windows dark.

They turned a corner.

Then another.

And the city…

Remained behind them.

As the sun rose, they were already on the road.

The first light shimmered on the thin layer of moisture covering the ground.

The beginning was easy.

The road was wide.

The ground was even.

The wind was light.

But it didn't last.

The soil hardened.

The path narrowed.

Vegetation thinned.

And the valley began.

At first glance, it only seemed vast.

But as they entered…

Its weight could be felt.

The rocks on both sides rose steeply.

When you looked up, the sky was just a thin line.

The light was cut off.

Shadow dominated.

The wind was different here.

Not blowing from above downward…

But as if from within, outward.

Each step required care.

The ground was uneven.

Small stones shifted underfoot.

Theo moved ahead.

He tested each step.

Rain followed.

But her gaze wasn't only on the ground.

On the walls.

On the height.

On the emptiness.

This was not a road.

It was a passage.

At one point, it narrowed.

Two people could not walk side by side.

Below…

There was depth.

But it could not be seen.

Only felt.

Rain's foot slipped.

A moment.

Silent.

But her balance broke.

Theo turned immediately.

But he didn't need to reach her.

Rain regained herself.

She placed a hand against the rock.

Took a breath.

"I'm fine," she said.

But her voice was lower.

They continued.

Time moved differently here.

Hours stretched.

Steps repeated.

Fatigue built.

But it wasn't spoken of.

Even when the sun stood high…

The valley had not released them.

Then…

Slowly, it opened.

Light returned.

The sky widened again.

They both stopped.

Just for a moment.

Then they kept walking.

The first village was small and scattered.

Wooden houses.

Irregular paths.

People were used to strangers.

The glances were brief.

Theo stepped forward.

Spoke.

Clear.

Short.

They bought food.

Dry bread.

Some meat.

Water.

Rain stayed in the background.

But she paid attention.

To how people stood.

To the tone of their voices.

There was no threat.

And most importantly…

There were no threads.

This time, they truly seemed gone.

When they set out again, the sun was beginning to fall.

The second village was larger.

More people.

More noise.

They stopped briefly at the market.

Theo bargained.

Rain waited at the side.

But this waiting was not empty.

She noted every entrance and exit.

Measured distances.

Habits did not change.

They spent the nights outside.

The fire was kept small.

Words were few.

As the days passed…

The terrain changed.

The ground hardened.

The color faded.

Vegetation diminished.

The air thinned.

The cold grew sharper.

And one morning…

The mountains appeared.

At first as silhouettes.

Then the details emerged.

Sharp peaks.

Harsh lines.

As they drew closer…

They grew.

Overwhelming.

The paths narrowed.

Passes became defined.

The wind shifted direction.

It no longer just blew.

It pushed.

Rain stopped.

She looked at the mountains.

For a long time.

This was not an arrival.

It was a trial.

Theo stepped beside her.

"We'll pass through here," he said.

There was no hesitation in his voice.

Rain nodded.

Turning back…

Was never an option.

The sun slowly descended.

The shadows of the mountains stretched.

And the two of them…

Stepped into that shadow.

The air changed instantly.

Colder.

Harsher.

But they did not stop.

Their steps continued.

Because now…

The road would not let them go.