Five hours later.

Inside the moving wagon.

Kate was admiring the colorful bags she bought from the store in Thorn Spring Village.

"I'm sure sister Ivy, Ella, and Aunt Margie would love these bags. It's the first time in my life I've seen such a fancy design!" she giggled.

After a few minutes of admiring the bags, she set them aside and looked outside the wagon. She noticed that the surrounding area was starting to darken. It's going to be nightfall soon.

Time for dinner.

She opened the bundle and grabbed the food that was supposed to be for her aunt. She will eat later if the driver will stop the wagon to rest for the night.

Two hours later.

The surrounding was already plunged in darkness except for the light from the lamp inside the wagon that Kate had lit.

The wagon finally stopped in a small clearing near a big tree.

The driver went down and checked on his passenger.

"Are you okay, Miss?" he asked and took off the cowboy hat from his head.

Kate nods her head. "Yes, I am," she answered. "Are we going to rest here for the night?"

"Yes. It's difficult and dangerous to travel during the night because it's dark and my horses need to rest as well. We can stay here for the night and continue our journey tomorrow morning after breakfast," he said.

"Do I have to go down?" she asked.

"It's up to you. But let me make a bonfire first so that there's some fire to make us warm. I will inform you if the bonfire is already lit," he said.

"Okay, thanks!" Kate replied.

The driver left to gather dry woods nearby.

Kate smiled.

Hmm, she noticed that the driver of the wagon is a good looking fellow!

She giggled a little.

She took the food ration and looked at it, it's enough for two, she will give some to the driver, after all, she needs to be generous and polite with him because he's in charge of their safety on the road.

The driver successfully created a bonfire and it was burning nicely.

'Time to get the young Miss down on the ground so that she can appreciate my handiwork," he thought to himself.

He went to the back of the wagon and inform the girl that he was done with the bonfire.

"The bonfire is ready! You may come down now, Miss!" he said and offered his hands to assist her in getting down.

"No need to assist me. I can go down on my own," she declined his offer and jumped into the ground. She brought her bag with her and they sauntered towards the bonfire.

Kate sat down on the ground facing the bonfire, she took out her food consisted of rice and fried dried salted meat with vegetables. "Here, you can have some," she offered the food to the driver.

"No thanks! You eat all that. I bring my food with me," he said. "I will get it."

He ambled towards the back of the wagon and took his bag. He went back to the clearing and sat on the ground facing the girl.

They devoured their meals in silence.

"After eating, can I stay here in front of the bonfire?" Kate asked.

"Yes, of course. You can go back to the wagon anytime if you feel sleepy," he replied.

Done eating her meal, Kate stared at the driver's face keenly.

He looked at her. "Eh? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Nothing...I just noticed that you have the same skin just like mine. The majority of the men I know and seen in my entire life had a much darker skin tone. But you are different, your skin is just like mine and you had blue eyes too just like mine and my sisters," she observed.

The driver stared at her for a long time. What she's telling him, make sense!

"What is your name, Mister?" she asked.

"M-my name is ... is..." he was doubting for a moment if he will reveal his name to her.

Then all of a sudden, the time stood still, everything was frozen including Kate along with the bonfire, except the driver.

A man materialized out of nowhere and walked into the clearing and faced the driver.

"You begged me to accompany Kate to her journey towards the castle on the hill. But I warned you—don't mess up with her! And more importantly, don't hinder her journey—do not attempt to stop her. And watch out for your heart!" Zemeth reminded him sternly.

Ramza nodded his head. "Alright, I'll remember everything you said," he mumbled to himself.

Zemeth left the clearing and disappeared into the night.

Kate was unfrozen and the bonfire resumed burning.

"What's your name?" she repeated.

"My name is Ramza," he answered.

Kate smiled. "Nice name!"

"And what's your name?" It's now his time to ask her.

"My name is Kate! Nice meeting you!" she beamed.

"Nice meeting you too, Kate!" he responded. "By the way, why are you so adamant in going to the castle on the hill?" he asked trying to make a small conversation with the girl.

"My sister Ivy is working there as a housekeeper and she had not visited us for two months straight. We're worried about her condition. I just want to know if she's doing okay there. If I can see her face to face and know that she's in a good condition then I'll have good news to share with my sister and Aunt," she explained.

"Oh...I'm sorry. But...did you know that the castle on the hill is a mysterious and spooky place to visit? I heard gossips and rumors... that whoever enters the castle can no longer get out," he said wearing a serious expression on his face.

Kate's eyes widened. "Huh? Is that true?"

Then Ramza smiled. "I'm just joking," he said.

"You're bad! You're just trying to scare me!" Kate pouted.

Ramza chuckled. "Hey, I'm just teasing you. But if the rumors are true, would you still go there?"

Kate was silent for a moment.

"Yes! I will still go there and save my sister!" she said with a fierce determination shining in her eyes.

"Huh? Aren't you afraid that you might encounter danger in the castle or that your sister is already dead at this very moment?" Ramza gauged her reaction.