Read Novel Full Chapter 284 Shadows on the Road P02
284: Shadows on the Road P02 284: Shadows on the Road P02 “It should,” the ranger said.
“They’re not just a bandit group.
They’re hired blades.
Trained.
Used by nobles and secret groups to get dirty work done.
Kidnapping, assassination, smuggling.” She stood.
“Whoever hired them wanted your group dead—or at least the boy.” Roma stepped forward, her face tense.
“They were after my brother.” The ranger nodded slowly.
“Then they’ll try again.
This was just the first wave.” Silence followed her words.
Aldo stirred awake inside the carriage, his eyes sleepy and confused.
Roma rushed to his side and hugged him tightly, trying not to cry.
The golden shield around him faded as he sat up, rubbing his eyes.
“Did we win?” he asked in a soft voice.
Roma smiled a little.
“Yes.
Thanks to Eren and Sofiya… and these rangers.” The boy looked at them all, confused but safe—for now.
The group decided to make camp off the road, deeper into the trees.
The rangers helped set up a safe circle, using magic wards to detect movement and traps to stop any late-night surprises.
Later that night, Eren sat by the fire, sharpening his blade.
The flames flickered across his face, his thoughts heavy.
Sofiya sat nearby, silent for a long while before speaking.
“They won’t stop.
You know that, right?” He nodded.
“Yeah.
This wasn’t random.
This was planned.” She stared into the fire.
“Roma thinks it’s someone from her own clan.” “That makes it worse.
If they’re using outside help, we won’t know who to trust.” Eren looked across the camp at Roma.
She sat with Aldo under a blanket, whispering stories to him.
The boy still looked shaken, but he smiled at her words.
“She’s strong,” Sofiya said, noticing Eren’s gaze.
“She is,” he replied.
“But we’ll need more than strength.
We need a plan.” The ranger leader joined them by the fire.
She brought a map and placed it down on the ground.
“I’ve arranged for scouts to follow the bandits who escaped,” she said.
“We’ll know where they came from by morning.” “Thank you,” Eren said.
“We owe you.” She shook her head.
“You don’t.
I’ve seen too many travelers die on this road lately.
If someone’s targeting noble houses and using groups like Black Stone, we all need to be on alert.” She pointed at the map.
“Forgeholm is three days away, if we take the river path instead of the open road.
It’s safer, and the trees give you cover.” “We’ll take it,” Sofiya said quickly.
“Agreed,” Eren nodded.
“No more open roads.” The ranger rolled up the map and stood.
“I’ll walk the perimeter once more.
Try to get some rest.” When she was gone, Eren leaned back and looked up at the stars.
They twinkled quietly, unaware of the trouble down below.
He sighed.
“We were supposed to be earning points and making a name.
Now we’re in the middle of someone else’s war.” Sofiya smirked faintly.
“Well, this is how stories begin, right?” He chuckled softly.
“Yeah.
And how some end.” The fire cracked and popped between them.
Somewhere deep in the forest, an owl hooted.
The night was calm now—but both Eren and Sofiya knew that calm would not last.
They were being hunted.
And the real battle hadn’t even started yet.
The next morning came quietly, with rays of sunlight pushing through the forest canopy and lighting the tired faces of the travelers.
The rangers had already vanished before dawn, leaving only faint boot prints behind.
The path to Forgeholm was clear, and with every mile, Eren, Sofiya, Roma, and Aldo moved further from danger—but closer to something deeper.
Roma no longer looked just worried.
She looked resolved.
Aldo sat quietly beside her in the carriage, hugging his knees.
Eren noticed the way he kept glancing out the window, alert and uneasy.
Sofiya had her hand on her sword the entire ride.
They didn’t speak much, but everyone understood the same thing: the ambush wasn’t just a fight on the road.
It was a sign.
The shadows weren’t behind them anymore—they were waiting ahead.
*** Forgeholm rose out of the valley like a great stone beast, its black and red walls shaped from lava-rock and ancient iron.
Smoke drifted from dozens of forges, chimneys, and heat vents built into towers.
At the center stood the Great Crucible, a glowing mountain of stone where the finest weapons in the Lunarim kingdom were said to be born.
As their carriages neared the outer gate, the guards—dwarves in layered black armor—stepped forward with stern expressions.
“State your name and purpose,” one barked.
Roma leaned out the window.
“Lady Roma Tigerin of House Tigerin.
I request passage to the Noble Quarters.
My brother and I are on official family business.” The guards glanced at each other, then nodded and opened the gate.
The group entered the city and was immediately met by noise and heat.
Metal clanged in rhythm from the countless forges.
Steam hissed from vents in the ground.
Carts full of iron, steel, and strange glowing stones rolled by.
Sofiya leaned toward Eren.
“Feels like walking into a volcano.” He smiled.
“Let’s just hope this one doesn’t erupt.” They were led through winding streets to the Noble Quarters, where the air was cooler, the stone buildings cleaner, and the noise more distant.
The group was offered rest at an inn known as The Ember House, a tall, firelit mansion built into the side of a cliff.
That night, after a warm meal and hot baths, Eren and Sofiya sat in their room, going over everything again.
“They haven’t attacked again yet,” Sofiya said, peering through the window.
“Makes me think they’re planning something worse.” Eren nodded.
“Agreed.
And it might start here.” A knock came at the door.
It was Roma.
“I need to speak with you.
Alone.” They let her in, and she closed the door behind her.
“There’s something I didn’t mention before,” she said quietly.
“Forgeholm was supposed to be a stop on the way to the capital.
But there’s a reason I came here specifically.” She took out a folded parchment and laid it on the table.
“This,” she said, pointing to a symbol etched into the parchment, “is the Seal of Eldcryst.” Sofiya raised an eyebrow.
“Never heard of it.”