---- smiling. ''His eyes are as bright as stars." "Thank you," I replied politely. "His father must be very proud," she continued. " Such a strong boy will surely be an excellent warrior in the future." At the mention of his father, my smile faltered slightly. Orion, however, suddenly became unusually excited, his little face flushed, his hands and feet waving. "What's wrong, little one?" I asked, puzzled. The old woman smiled knowingly. "Sometimes, children can see things we can't. Especially at sacred times like the New Moon Festival." After she left, I looked around, suddenly feeling a sense of unease. Something was off, but I couldn't pinpoint what. Orion continued to look excitedly in a certain direction, almost squirming out of my arms. ---- Following his gaze, I only saw a group of unfamiliar villagers, one of whom was a tall man with his back to us, wearing a dark cloak. That silhouette... it was somewhat familiar. My heart sped up, and I involuntarily stepped in that direction. But just then, a commotion interrupted me. "Catch him! That spy!" an angry voice shouted. The crowd parted, and several village guards chased a man trying to escape. He was quickly subdued, and when his hood was removed, it revealed an unfamiliar face. "He was caught rummaging through documents in the village chief's house!" one of the guards explained. "T just got lost!" the man protested. But when the guards found a list full of names on him, his lie was immediately exposed. ---- My name was clearly on it. "What is this?" the village chief questioned sternly. The spy remained silent, but the glance he shot my way said it all. He was looking for me. For us. Fear washed over me like ice water. I clutched Orion tightly, quickly retreating into the crowd, then quietly left the square. Back at the cabin, I urgently packed our things. " Rhea! We have to leave! They've found us!" Rhea nodded calmly, not asking any questions, and immediately began preparing necessary items. "There's a path through the back door leading to the forest, where a prepared carriage is waiting." "You prepared an escape route long ago?" I asked, surprised. ---- "It was Kaelen's instruction," she said softly. ''He foresaw possible danger and planned multiple retreat routes for you." Kaelen... even before we parted, he had considered every possibility. We quickly finished packing and were about to leave when there was a knock on the door. We tensed instantly. Rhea motioned for me to hide with Orion in the cellar while she answered the door. Through a crack in the floorboards, I could see Rhea open the door and talk to the visitor. It was the tall man who had his back to me earlier! "T know she's here," the man said in a low voice that made my heart stop. It was Kaelen's voice!