The carriage rattled down the mountain path until it slowed, pulling into a roadside clearing where guards waited with fresh horses and supplies. The air was warmer here than in the high peaks, scented faintly with pine and earth.
Noel stepped out first, stretching his arms as the stiffness of travel eased from his shoulders. Revenant Fang tapped lightly against his hip, a familiar weight. Sylvette followed, accepting a flask of water from one of the attendants before settling on a nearby stone.
For a moment, neither spoke. Then Sylvette broke the silence, her voice low but curious. "The academy… what's it like?"
Noel glanced at her, surprised by the question. "Busy. Harsh at times. You're always being tested, always training. But… it's also alive. People chasing goals, fighting for something more than themselves."
Sylvette tilted her head, studying him. "Sounds better than being locked inside the estate, drilled in etiquette and politics."
