The road stretched before them like a thin scar, a faded memory of journeys past. Ana and Caden moved along its dusty length, each step scattering fine gravel beneath the dim late-afternoon light. A chill whispered through the air, carrying with it the distant scent of autumn's approach. The small town lay ahead, a smudge against the horizon, its presence as unassuming as the worn track that led to its outskirts. Their breaths mingled with the cool air, visible puffs of exertion in the growing twilight.

From the fork in the road, a trio of Kingsguard soldiers emerged, their figures stark against the gray light. Gleaming armor caught the day's last rays, casting reflections that danced like fleeting spectres on the barren landscape. They halted abruptly, eyes fixed on Ana with an intensity that fractured the tranquil monotony of the scene. One soldier stepped forward, adjusting his chestplate with rigid strictness. His voice carried through the air, a note of surprise woven into its martial cadence. "General, we did not expect you here." Ana narrowed her eyes, her expression sharpening with mistrust.

As her hand moved unconsciously toward the hilt of her weapon, Caden felt a jolt of anxiety and started to fidget nervously, fully aware that his master was observing their every move.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, she gave a quick, sharp nod, her eyes darting away. The dismissive gesture seemed casual, yet her fingers subtly clenched into a fist at her side.

The soldiers hesitated, exchanging cautious glances, before retreating down the opposite path. Their voices floated back on the wind, fragments of conversation about "North" and the "Crimson Syndicate" mingling with the rustle of dry leaves. As their armored forms dwindled into the distance, a heavy silence settled over Ana and Caden, thick with the weight of unspoken thoughts and shared uncertainty.

Ana's mind pulsed with unease, her thoughts circling back to the town that loomed ahead like a faded promise of shelter. Its familiarity bred discomfort rather than solace. She tugged her cloak tighter around her, the fabric a barrier against the chill and the doubt that sought to creep in.

Beside her, Caden's presence was a bright thread woven through the gloom, his youthful energy undimmed by their long journey. He glanced at Ana, a question poised on his lips. "Think we'll reach the inn by nightfall?" His voice was hopeful, almost eager.

"With any luck," Ana replied, her tone clipped but not unkind. The words were a mask for the apprehension simmering beneath.

Caden grinned, undeterred by her brevity. "Good. My boots are getting blisters on their blisters." He adjusted the oversized sword strapped to his back, its weight a testament to his determination.

Ana smirked, the expression fleeting. "Don't get too comfortable. The last thing we need is to be cozy enough to let our guard down."

He nodded, earnest despite his weariness. "I've got eyes like a hawk."

"Or at least, a really observant pigeon." Ana retorted.

She watched Caden's grin widen, a brightness amidst the looming twilight.

She allowed herself a rare chuckle, the sound incongruous against the backdrop of her inner tension. Caden fell into step beside her.

"I thought you left the military. Why do they still call you 'General'?"

She stiffened, the question poking through her composure like a jagged shard. Her eyes fixed ahead, gaze unyielding as the faraway town. "It's just a title," she replied, her voice terse, as if rehearsed against a tide of unwanted memories.

Ana's gaze flicked toward him, the question threading through her defenses. "Old habits die hard," she said, her dismissive tone unable to hide the tension curling at its edges.

Caden's brow furrowed, the lines deepening with thought as they walked on. "Is it because of the 'that what happend' you talked about?"

Ana remained silent, her thoughts tangling in knots she couldn't quite unravel. An old, fragile bridge appeared ahead, arching over a narrow brook that whispered secrets to those willing to listen. The water's surface rippled with traces of hidden life—a flash of silver from darting fish, the sudden splash of a startled frog, and the delicate dance of insects gliding just above. Beneath the clear flow, mottled stones served as sanctuary for small armored crayfish.

Caden watched the brook with wide-eyed interest, his earlier question momentarily forgotten. Ana glanced sideways at him as they crossed, measuring how much truth his young mind could bear.

The musty scent of old wood drifted from the worn bridge, hinting at years of use and exposure to the elements. The water itself held a clean, crisp scent, tinged with hints of minerals and life.

A soft murmur of water trickling over rocks and the occasional splash of a fish breaching the surface creates a serene melody that is quickly interrupted by a rustling in the underbrush. Ana's tense breath and the crunching of leaves under their feet break the peaceful ambiance.

Her voice cut through the near silence. "I—"

Ana heard the sound before she saw them—footsteps and voices carried on the crisp breeze. She stiffened, her instincts sharp, the fleeting banter with Caden dissolving into cold vigilance. They rounded a bend, and more Kingsguard soldiers came into view, their forms distinct against the bare landscape. The men walked with confident strides, armor glinting in the fading light, the rhythmic clink of their gear a stark contrast to the hushed whispers of nature.

"They seem like they're in a hurry," Caden observed, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Think they’re heading our way?"

Ana's eyes narrowed, assessing the soldiers with suspicion. "Maybe. Or maybe we’re just in their way."

Caden raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the possibility.

The soldiers' approach was direct, the path ahead promising an encounter that Ana would have preferred to avoid. She weighed their options, calculating the risks. There was no other route that wouldn’t arouse more interest, no way to slip by without drawing attention. Her fingers twitched involuntarily toward the hilt of her blade, a reflex as natural as breathing.

The soldiers marched toward them with purposeful steps, until Ana knew there was no avoiding them. As she and Caden came closer, the men stopped abruptly, surprise etched across their faces. The sudden pause spoke volumes, a silent confirmation of the unexpectedness of their meeting. Ana remained tense, her muscles coiled with readiness as she gauged their reactions.

"Something's not right," she muttered, more to herself than to Caden.

He leaned in, keenly observing. "Because they stopped like that?"

"Because they didn't keep walking," Ana replied, her voice low and edged with the suspicion that gnawed at her.

The leader of the soldiers stepped forward, adjusting his chestplate with a self-assured air. His armor bore the marks of long service, the scuffs and dents testament to battles weathered and survived. The man's eyes locked onto Ana's with a calculating gaze, an appraisal that carried both recognition and something darker.

"General, your presence here is—unexpected.," he called out, his voice ringing clear through the cool air. There was a note of surprise in his words, but beneath it lay an undercurrent of something else—an intrigue that set Ana's instincts on edge.

Ana stiffened. The words echoed with uncanny familiarity, as if drawn from a script she’d already dismissed. Her mind raced, pulling at threads of memory and suspicion.

Ignoring the déjà vu that gnawed at her, she responded with brisk indifference. "It's mutual."

The soldiers hesitated once more, exchanging glances filled with an unspoken understanding.

She met the soldier's gaze with a sharpness that cut through the distance between them. Her hand lingered near her weapon, a silent testament to her mistrust. "I wasn’t aware I had to clear my travel plans with the likes of you," she shot back, her tone as cold as the wind that whipped around them.

The soldier smirked, unfazed by her hostility. "Word from North is you have other... priorities, General. Wouldn't want to spread your forces too thin."

Ana's eyes flashed with contained fury, but she kept her expression tight. She knew better than to rise to the bait, even as it scraped against raw nerves. "Last I checked, I'm still free to choose my own priorities. Or has that changed with the new recruits?"

The soldier hesitated, his confident facade slipping for a brief moment. He glanced at his companions, the movement subtle but telling. "Just surprised to see you so far from the fight. Must be something important. Crimson Syndicate, maybe?"

Caden absorbed the exchange, his mind working to piece together the implications. The names and places were unfamiliar, but the tension in Ana's posture spoke volumes.

"Recruits like you always think they're at the center of it all," she said, voice dripping with calculated disdain. She took a step forward, letting the sharp edge of her reputation cut into their self-assurance. "Don't mistake a diversion for the real fight."

The soldiers shifted uneasily under her gaze, their bravado faltering.

"If you're so concerned about the North, maybe you should work on your tracking skills. Wouldn't want to end up wandering circles while the real threats slip by."

The leader's composure cracked, frustration creeping into his expression.

"We'll manage the real threats just fine," he retorted, though his voice lacked its former swagger. "But if you insist on diversionary tactics, we'll make sure the Sir Ironfoot knows."

Ana offered a sharp, mirthless smile. "Tell Ironfoot to send more than fledglings next time if he wants results," she said, dismissing him with a flick of her hand.

Ana's eyes hardened into molten gold, like embers ready to ignite. Her voice lashed out, quick and decisive. "You're dismissed."

The leader hesitated, a brazen flicker of defiance in his eyes. "And you're still all talk, General," he sneered. "We both know you have nothing—"

He stopped abruptly as Ana let the mana flow from her body in a surge of raw power, illuminating the air around her in a dazzling display. The crimson hues of the generals' manaparticles flared bright against the darkening sky, stark against their paling faces.

Her jaw clenched with fury, Ana glared at them with lethal intensity. She held nothing back, her fierce expression leaving the soldiers no room to doubt her resolve.

They stumbled back, hurrying to pack their gear as urgency overtook them. "Let's move!" the leader barked, his voice cracking as if chased by shadows. They left the trail in a flurry of footsteps and hurried breaths, retreating with the haste of men who'd glimpsed their ends.

"Looks like you scared them off." Caden said and exhaled.

As they moved farther away, their voices drifted back to Ana and Caden, carrying fragments of a conversation that was anything but idle.

"She's on her own... for now," one soldier said, the words nearly swallowed by the distance.

"Not like the others," another replied, his tone both speculative and certain.

Ana's aura flickered, dimming until it vanished completely. As the mana faded, so did the tension in her stance, leaving her with an emptiness that felt all too familiar.

Her head brumming exhausted, she scrubbed a hand across her face and began walking again, her boots hitting the ground with mechanical repetition.

"What was that about?" Caden ventured, breaking the silence that had settled between them.

Ana's response was a beat too slow, her usual quick retort softened by something that Caden couldn't quite name. "Just a reunion with some old acquaintances," she said, trying to sound flippant.

He frowned, unconvinced. "Didn't seem too friendly."

"They're not the friendly type." Ana shrugged, her effort to downplay the encounter transparent. "Best not to get too cozy with anyone who has more armor than personality."

"They think they know me," Ana said, the anger still sharpening her words. "They think they can use that."

Caden hesitated before speaking again. "Is that what you meant when you said you didn’t want me getting caught up?"

Ana's step faltered, and for a moment, the taut silence stretched between them like a fraying thread. "It’s too late for that," she muttered.

Caden hesitated, debating whether to press for more details. Ana's reluctance was palpable, but so was the curiosity that burned in him. "What did they mean about 'North' and that other thing? Crimson something?"

"Nosy, aren't you?" Ana deflected, a wry smile tugging at her lips despite the lingering tension.

Caden gave a half-smile, his persistence undeterred. "Only because you taught me well."

Ana sighed, the sound laced with both resignation and a hint of affection. "I did, didn’t I? Alright, here's the short version: North is not a nice place, and the Crimson Syndicate is even less nice. Everything else? Complicated. Like the rest of life."

Caden crossed his arms, a hint of irritation in his posture. "So, nothing new then?"

"Smart boy," Ana quipped, but her tone softened. "When there’s need-to-know news, you’ll be the first."

The words did little to warm Caden's frustration. He kicked a loose pebble on the path, watching it skitter away. "Hard to help if I’m always guessing."

Ana glanced at him, taking in his disgruntled expression. She slowed her pace, letting him catch up. "You’re helping more than you think," she said quietly.

They resumed their walk, the road stretching out before them as it always had, though now it felt weighted with implications that Ana would rather not examine too closely. Caden matched her pace, thoughtful but not entirely satisfied by her evasions. His mind was a tangle of questions, each one looping back to the strange encounter and the unsettling insights it offered into Ana's past.

"One thing’s for sure," Ana muttered, half to herself, as they neared the town's outskirts.

Caden looked over, waiting.

"This place is about to get a lot less quiet," she said.