Scene 149 — "Do Not Trust the Road"
The Traveler woke violently.
His eyes opened.
He inhaled sharply.
His entire body jerked upward.
For a moment—
he didn't know where he was.
Darkness.
Obsidian.
A throne.
White hair.
His own face staring back at him.
Then—
the memory shattered.
The Traveler looked around.
Wooden walls.
A small room.
A dim lantern.
A blanket covering his body.
His breathing came rapidly.
Sweat covered his forehead.
His hand immediately moved toward his chest.
Nothing.
No wound reopening.
No black flame.
Only his heartbeat.
Fast.
Heavy.
Real.
He sat upright.
The movement caused pain to spread through his injured arm.
He ignored it.
His eyes searched the room.
Empty.
Then—
the words returned.
Arafial's voice.
Cold.
Certain.
Do not trust the road.
The Traveler froze.
He stared at the floor.
"What..."
His voice was rough.
"...was that?"
Footsteps sounded outside.
The door opened.
The elder sister entered.
She stopped immediately.
The Traveler was sitting upright.
Awake.
For several seconds—
neither spoke.
Then she exhaled.
"You're awake."
The Traveler looked at her.
His breathing slowly settled.
"...How long?"
"Not long."
She approached.
"You collapsed after killing the beast."
The Traveler's eyes shifted.
"How long was I unconscious?"
"Several hours."
He looked toward the window.
Night had fallen.
The elder sister placed a cup of water beside him.
"Drink."
He accepted it.
His hand remained steady.
She watched him carefully.
"You were sweating."
The Traveler looked away.
"Bad dream."
She didn't ask further.
Perhaps she understood that some memories were better left alone.
Then—
a quiet voice came from the doorway.
"Sister..."
The younger girl stood there.
Her eyes were red.
The elder sister turned.
"What is it?"
The younger girl looked toward the Traveler.
Then lowered her gaze.
"...We need to bury him tomorrow."
Silence.
The Traveler slowly lowered the cup.
The elder sister said nothing.
The younger girl continued.
"Our brother."
Her voice cracked.
"We can't leave him there."
The Traveler looked down.
The broken spear flashed through his memory.
The body.
The ground.
The silence.
His fingers tightened around the cup.
"I'll help."
Both sisters looked at him.
The elder sister shook her head.
"You can barely stand."
The Traveler looked at his injured arm.
Then at her.
"I can stand."
A pause.
"I should be there."
The younger sister stared at him.
"Why?"
The Traveler didn't answer immediately.
Because he knew.
Their brother had died protecting him.
Whatever else happened—
that fact remained.
Finally, he said,
"He died because of me."
The elder sister's expression tightened.
"No."
The Traveler looked at her.
She continued.
"He died protecting us."
Her voice trembled.
"Don't take his choice away from him."
The Traveler remained silent.
The younger sister wiped her eyes.
"He wouldn't want us blaming you."
The room became quiet.
The Traveler lowered his gaze.
For once—
he had no argument.
Outside, the wind moved through the flowers.
The elder sister walked toward the window.
"Tomorrow."
"We bury him."
The Traveler nodded.
"Tomorrow."
She looked back at him.
"And after that?"
The Traveler's eyes moved toward the western horizon beyond the window.
The Anchor rested beneath his cloak.
Still pointing west.
But Arafial's voice remained in his mind.
Do not trust the road.
The Traveler's expression became unreadable.
"I don't know."
For the first time—
the road ahead no longer felt certain.
And somewhere beyond the mountains...
something was waiting for him to choose whether he would follow it.