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Lulled by the serenity of the moment, our entwined fingers and synchronized heartbeats, we drifted off to sleep, dreaming of the life that awaited just over the horizon.
17
KUANA
The sun on this planet was fierce, its golden rays beating down on me as I hoed rows in the field.
With every movement of my muscles, I felt the weight of the sun, the weight of the soil, and the weight of my own history.
Every now and then, I’d pause, wiping the sweat from my brow, lost in the repetitive rhythm of work.
It was a world away from the horrors of Ikmal, and yet, sometimes it felt as if I could never be too far away.
It had been just another day at the farm, but today was special.
We were supposed to visit the neighboring farm in the afternoon.
A potential new home.
Violet’s excitement was palpable, almost infectious.
I could picture it — our own patch of land, our own animals, our own life.
But as much as I wanted to lose myself in the rhythm of work and the dreams of a brighter tomorrow, there was an undercurrent of unease that wouldn’t let go.
Every rustle of the leaves, every distant call of an unfamiliar creature made me tense.
There was a shadow at the back of my mind, a feeling I couldn’t shake off.
Taking a break, I straightened and stretched my back.
Glancing around, my eyes automatically searched the horizon, scanning the sky, half-expecting to see a ship or some sign of danger.
The vastness of the land, with its rolling fields and distant mountains, seemed both comforting and threatening all at once.
I couldn’t escape the feeling that we were being watched.
Every gust of wind, every bird call, made me jumpy.
Had we been followed?
Had Ikhax or his associates tracked us down?
Pushing the hoe into the ground, I decided to take a quick break and walked over to a nearby tree for shade.
The fresh scent of the soil and the chirping of the insects should have been calming.
Instead, they only accentuated my unease.
With every passing moment, the sensation that we were on borrowed time grew stronger.
I couldn’t help but wonder if settling down was a luxury that Violet and I could ever afford.
Lost in thought, I didn’t notice when Elara approached, carrying a jug of water.
“You look a million miles away,” she remarked, her keen eyes watching me.
I shook my head, trying to dislodge the heaviness. “Just… lost in thought. Thank you,” I said, gratefully accepting the water.
