The ancient trees of the White Forest closed around them like protective arms sheltering them from the crowd, their pale bark gleaming in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the canopy above. Seraphina's legs burned as they ran deeper into the woods, following deer paths that twisted between massive trunks that were older than all of them combined. They followed paths they knew well from childhood, keeping a safe distance between them and the onslaught of villagers behind them.

Behind them, the sounds of pursuit grew fainter with each step—the villagers' shouts, the barking of tracking dogs and the crash of bodies pushing through underbrush. But Seraphina knew they wouldn't give up easily. Anubis's influence ran too deep for that. While the hatred and darkness flowed through their veins, they'd still continue to pursue them and her mother.

"This way," Finnian gasped, veering left toward a stream that bubbled over moss-covered stones."The water will mask our scent and give us time to put a sizable distance between us. We might have a chance to lose them."

They splashed through the shallow creek, their boots squelching on the muddy banks. Phoenixus flew overhead, his keen eyes scanning for signs of danger, occasionally calling out warnings that only Seraphina could fully understand. The three of them remained on alert, listening to any noise that might indicate the villagers were still chasing them.

"How far to the Red Castle?" Elyra’s voice quivered as she adjusted her healer's pack, its weight jostling against her back while she quickened her pace to keep up.

“I don’t know,” Seraphina gasped, her breaths shallow and ragged, each inhale punctuated by the rhythmic crunch of leaves underfoot. “The old stories never mentioned distances. Just that it lies beyond the Whispering Seaks, where the sun sinks into a pool of red.”

Finnian’s brow furrowed as he scanned the path ahead, his mind gathering the scraps of his knowledge like a cartographer piecing together a map. “The Whispering Seaks are a three-day journey from here,” he murmured, his voice steady despite the uncertainty that hung in the air. “But that’s if we can stick to the main roads. Through the forest, avoiding pursuit...” He let out a frustrated breath, shaking his head slowly. “Could be a week or more. I’m not entirely sure, but either way, we’ve got a long journey ahead of us.”

They pressed on in silence, their feet finding rhythm on the forest floor carpeted with fallen leaves. The White Forest was aptly named and incredibly beautiful—the bark of its trees was pearl-white, and even the leaves seemed to shimmer with a magical pallor. It was a place where the old magic lived, where the boundary between the mortal world and the realm of spirits was at its thinnest. But no one feared the forest despite the lore surrounding it.

As the afternoon wore on, the sounds of pursuit faded entirely, leaving the three of them grateful but still extremely tired from the hot pursuit they'd endured. Either the villagers had given up the chase, or they had successfully thrown them off the trail; either way, they weren't chasing them anymore. But Seraphina couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She felt eyes watching her every movement, but as she searched the surrounding area for any signs of life, there weren't any.

"We need to rest," Ely