Far to the east, the unmarked black carriage finally ground to a halt after a grueling, endless journey. The sun had long sunk beneath the horizon, plunging the jagged wilderness into total darkness.
The heavy carriage door creaked open, admitting the cold night air.
"Welcome, my love... to our new home," Roland's smooth, poisonous voice echoed from outside.
Serene offered no reply. Her face was a mask of cold, hollow detachment as she stepped down from the carriage, her body moving on pure survival instinct. Behind her, Olivia climbed down in heavy silence, her iron cuffs rattling softly against the dark wood.
Roland turned, his yellow eyes glinting with dark amusement as his gaze swept over Olivia's quiet submission.
"Oh, Olivia..." he sneered, a cruel, mocking smile carving across his face. "I see you are finally adapting to the life of an obedient beast. Look at you—moving without me even needing to issue a command."
