The steady rhythm of hooves against damp earth filled the night as the carriage rolled forward, carrying them away from the castle and into the unknown.
Manni sat upfront, guiding the horses with a firm hand, his coat pulled up to shield him from the light drizzle that had begun to fall.
Inside the carriage, the four travelers—Salviana, Jean and the two vampires—settled into their seats as the rain tapped gently against the wooden roof.
Jean, ever the bundle of energy, leaned forward. "You know, it might not even be raining in the next city."
Lucius smirked, watching the droplets slide down the glass window. "That's the beauty of traveling. One moment you're drenched, the next, you're basking in the moonlight."
Jean beamed. "I'd love that! That way, we can look around without getting soaked."
Salviana, however, was quiet. She sat beside Alaric, her fingertips idly tracing the fabric of her dress as if lost in thought.
