Chapter 71 - 071: Journey

Anaria hurried back inside the den and immediately called out to the system.

"System, help me arrange the things I’ll need for the journey."

The system responded at once.

[Understood, Host.]

A small amount of space opened before her, and the system began bringing out the items she would need. Anaria quickly checked through them, making sure nothing important was missing. She did not know how long the journey would take, so she wanted to be prepared for anything.

Once she was satisfied, she gathered the things together and returned to the main room.

Kenai and Kai were already there.

Both of them were dressed and ready to leave, their expressions serious as they looked at her.

"Are you really ready to make this journey?" Kenai asked.

Anaria nodded "I don’t want to waste time talking about it. Rylan might be in danger, and we need to move as quickly as possible."

Without waiting for another question, she walked toward the entrance.

Kenai and Kai exchanged a look before quickly following her.

"Anaria, hold up," Kenai called.

She stopped and turned around.

Kenai walked toward her and looked at the baby in her arms.

"Give the baby to me. I’ll carry her."

Anaria looked at him for a moment before carefully handing the baby over.

Kai stepped forward next "And your bag?"

Anaria handed it to him as well.

With both men carrying the things, Anaria no longer had to worry about anything slowing her down.

Before they left, Kenai turned toward the servants "We’ll be back soon. Don’t alarm anyone while we’re gone."

The servants nodded, though some of them looked worried.

The three of them then left the residence and began their journey. They moved beyond Ravenfall and deeper into the forest. Anaria walked ahead while Kenai carried the baby behind her and Kai carried her bag.

After they had gone some distance, Anaria called out to the system again. "System, give me a map. I need something that can guide us."

A map immediately appeared before her.

The forest stretched across the map, with their current location clearly marked. A path leading farther away from Ravenfall appeared in front of her, showing her which direction they needed to take.

Anaria memorized the route before taking the map with her.

[Host, the journey ahead will be difficult]

[Please be careful and take care of yourself.]

"I know."

[The system wishes Host a safe journey.]

The system disappeared.

Anaria continued walking, following the route shown on the map.

For a while, everything went smoothly.

The forest was quiet, and the baby had not cried for quite some time. That made the journey easier, allowing them to cover more distance without stopping.

After some time, Kenai looked at Anaria’s back.

"Anaria, you should rest for a while. Rylan isn’t running away."

She stopped walking and turned to look at him "We haven’t even been out for that long. Are you already tired?"

Kenai shook his head "I’m not tired. I’m just worried about you."

Anaria’s expression softened slightly "I’m fine. If I become tired, I’ll stop and rest. You don’t have to worry about me."

Kenai stared at her for a moment before nodding "Alright."

Anaria turned back toward the path and continued walking.

They had only gone a short distance when the system suddenly appeared again.

[Host.]

Anaria slowed down"What is it?"

[The system wishes to remind Host of the current mission: Save Your Husband.]

Anaria frowned. She already knew that Rylan needed to be rescued, but the system’s tone made her uneasy.

[Additional information has been unlocked.]

Anaria’s steps stopped completely "What information?"

[Your husband, Rylan, is currently being held by his brother, Zane.]

Anaria’s eyes widened. "His brother?"

[Yes. Host’s mission is not only to rescue Rylan but also to aid him in reclaiming the throne that rightfully belongs to him.]

Anaria stared ahead in shock.

A throne?

How had Rylan’s disappearance suddenly become connected to a throne?

The system continued before she could ask.

[Rylan is a prince of the Wolfrine Clan. He was injured while searching for a solution that could help his clan. The person responsible for his injuries was his stepbrother, Zane.]

Anaria’s face became serious.

[Zane is attempting to take the throne from Rylan. After discovering that Rylan survived his injuries, Zane now intends to kill him.]

Anaria’s heart tightened.

"So that’s why he’s being held..."

[Host must act quickly.]

The system’s next words made her blood run cold.

[If one of Host’s mates dies, the system will consider the mission a failure and will alienate Host.]

Anaria’s face immediately turned pale.

"What?"

[Host must save Rylan.]

Before Anaria could say anything else, the system continued.

[If Host succeeds in helping Rylan reclaim what belongs to him, Host will receive a superior reward. The details of the reward will be revealed at the completion of the task.]

[Additional rewards will also be given upon completion of subsequent mini-tasks. Failure to complete certain tasks may result in penalties.]

Anaria was still trying to process everything.

The system disappeared before she could respond.

She stood silently for a moment, staring at the path ahead. Anaria was still trying to understand everything when the baby suddenly began crying.

She immediately turned around. The sky had also begun to darken.

"We need to stop for tonight," she said.

She took the baby from Kenai and looked around the forest.

"We’ll continue the journey tomorrow."

Kenai and Kai nodded. They needed rest too.

Kenai and Kai quickly began preparing a place for them to spend the night.

With the materials they had brought along, they managed to set up a simple tent beneath the trees. It was not as comfortable as their den back in Ravenfall, but it was enough to protect them from the cold night air.

Anaria settled inside with the baby.

The child was still restless, so she sat down and breastfed him until he became calmer. After feeding, she gently rocked her in her arms until her eyes finally closed.

Once she was certain he was asleep, Anaria carefully laid him down before stepping outside.

The smell of roasted meat reached her immediately.

Kenai and Kai were sitting near the small fire, roasting pieces of pork they had obtained from an animal they had hunted earlier.

Both men looked up when they noticed her approaching.

"You should eat," Kai said.

He pulled a piece of the roasted meat away and offered it to her.

Anaria accepted it.

"Thank you."

She took a few bites while sitting beside them.

For a moment, none of them spoke.

Anaria’s thoughts were still occupied by everything the system had told her.

Rylan’s situation was far more complicated than she had expected.

She swallowed another bite before looking at her mates.

"We need to make a plan."

Kenai’s expression became serious.

"A plan?"

"Yes."

Anaria placed the meat down for a moment.

"We don’t know what we’re walking into. We don’t even know exactly where Rylan is being kept or how many people are guarding him."

Kai nodded.

"That is true."

"And if Zane really wants to kill him, we can’t simply rush into his territory without knowing what we’re dealing with."

Kenai leaned forward slightly.

"What are you thinking?"

Anaria looked at both of them.

"We need to find out everything we can before we reach wherever Rylan is being held. We should observe the area first, find out how many guards there are, learn the safest route inside and make sure we have a way to get Rylan out."

She paused briefly.

"If we can avoid fighting unnecessarily, we should. Our priority is getting Rylan out alive."

Kenai nodded.

"That makes sense."

Kai agreed as well.

"We’ll follow your plan."

Anaria looked at them.

"You both agree?"

Kenai gave her a small smile.

"Of course. We’re going to save our mate. Whatever plan you come up with, we’ll do our best to help."

Kai nodded.

"We’re not leaving you to handle this alone."

Anaria felt some of the tension inside her chest ease.

She smiled.

"Then we should rest tonight. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, and I don’t want either of you exhausted before we even reach Rylan."

Kenai gave a small laugh.

"You were the one who said we were tired earlier."

"I still stand by that."

Kai chuckled quietly.

They continued eating for a little while before finally putting out most of the fire.

Anaria returned to the tent.

Once she was inside, she checked on the baby before sitting down.

"System."

The familiar voice appeared.

[Yes, Host.]

"I want you to keep an eye on us tonight."

[Please specify.]

"If there’s any danger approaching us, wake me immediately. I don’t care what time it is. Alert me before anything gets close."

[Understood. The system will monitor the surrounding area throughout the night and alert Host if danger is detected.]

Anaria nodded.

"Good."

She looked toward the sleeping baby.

Then she thought about Rylan.

He had been hiding the truth about his identity for so long, and now she knew that his disappearance was connected to something much bigger than she had imagined.

Anaria took a slow breath.

Whatever awaited them beyond the forest, she could not afford to be careless. She lay down beside her child and pulled the covering over herself.