Following Marcus through the forest path, Serah kept her eyes fixed on the way he moved with ease, as if the woods themselves parted for him. After several minutes, the thick curtain of trees broke open, revealing a cabin tucked neatly into the clearing. It was built of thick, sturdy timber, its roof slanted, and a small front porch extended from its face with a couple of wooden steps leading up. Not far from the cabin, a river wound gracefully, its water flowing steady and clear, catching streaks of moonlight between the branches.
Serah paused as her gaze swept over the scene. The place was simple, modest compared to the grandeur of her home back in the royal palace, yet the beauty here was undeniable. The cabin seemed to hum with peace, surrounded by the wilderness, as though time itself slowed around it. For some reason, the sight struck her more deeply than gilded halls ever had.
