After that conversation with her father, the following set of days was spent preparing everything for them to leave. Morena was busy, and most of the things had to be handled secretly because she didn't want news spreading.

On the surface, she kept up the appearance of cleaning and rebuilding the estate, but beneath that surface, she was actually gathering all the family's resources, books, materials, land, and everything else for the move.

Since they couldn't benefit from the shops they owned here after leaving, Morena sold them at a high price, that way they would have enough money when they arrived at the Empire.

As for the resources, books, and so on, she picked out the best ones, the ones worth the most, and sold the extras. They would have limited wagons when moving, and wouldn't be able to carry everything with them, so they had to take only the best.

She didn't sell them widely either; she made sure to use various channels when selling them, even some new ones that no one would know of. That way, it wouldn't draw suspicion that they were up to something.

Morena made sure not to waste any time at all.

While her father recovered, and her siblings rested, she went into full preparation mode. She had already made up her mind, and she wasn't the type to wait for permission once she did; her father would either have to agree willingly or move with the house when she moved it.

Of course, she couldn't do everything alone; she had to get some help, so she informed the people she trusted the most to help her.

Adolf was the first to know.

He stood beside her in the war room, a single candle lighting the table between them as she unfolded a map of the kingdom. Her finger trailed from the city to the nearest edge, stopping near the border that led into imperial lands.

"We'll take this route. It's longer, but it avoids the main roads; that way we won't be seen."

Adolf narrowed his brows slightly as he studied the path she had shown him.

"My Lady, that path cuts through the forest; it's not safe. The forest is filled with all sorts of wild animals, not to mention all the bandits that've been pouring in from the borders."

"That's a risk we will have to take to avoid the Church following us. We will travel with only the people willing to follow us, and only the necessary things; that way, it'll be easier."

She explained that it was the best choice, and while yes, it was dangerous, it was the path that Morena, with the help of the AI, had deduced to be the best option.

The AI had also informed her that by taking this path, they would be more likely to avoid running into a blockade at the border to stop people from crossing over.

So if they wanted to enter the Empire, it was the only way they could go.

"I want you and the captain to start gathering the names of those we can rely on. Only the ones willing to follow without hesitation. Everyone else can stay; I won't force anyone to go with us."

Adolf gave a short nod.

"But don't tell them too many details."

"As you wish. What about the armory and the treasury?"

"I've already made a list of everything worth taking. Weapons, materials, the family's books, even the ledgers. Most of the remaining things are either minor or useless to us once moving."

The captain entered not long after, his armor half-donned, a roll of parchment tucked under his arm.

"We've secured the wagons needed to move everything. The repairs are taking longer than expected, but they'll hold for travel. If we move before dawn two days from now, we can make it past the outer towns before anyone notices."

"Two days? That should be enough time to finish everything and inform my father. Good, then let's do it."

She said without looking up from the map.

"I'll handle the rest, just finish the things I mentioned."

With a nod, they got to work with the preparations she placed them in charge of, doing everything as quietly and as efficiently as possible.

Under the cover of repairs, supplies were moved, weapons packed, and documents sealed. No one outside their circle knew what was happening, even when whispers spread amongst them. The servants believed it was simply recovery work, and the soldiers followed orders without question.

By the end of the second night, everything was ready.

The carriages were filled with food, water, and valuables. Horses were prepared and cared for since they would be moving for days without rest. The most trusted soldiers had been briefed that they would be moving and told to inform their families ahead of time.

The rest remained unaware, their posts maintained as if nothing was out of the ordinary; they would only be informed on the day of the move, and those who wanted to join them would have to prepare in mere hours.

Not enough time for anyone to leak information to the Church, and not enough time for the Church to act.

Only on the second night did she speak to her family, to inform them of all the preparation and the plans.

Her father was the first person she spoke to.

He sat by the window of his chamber, wrapped in a thick cloak, the color in his face slowly returning. When she went to meet him, he seemed to have already expected her to come; he listened to her words without interrupting.

When she finished, he sighed deeply.

"You really don't leave room for debate, do you?"

"I gave you time to think."

She said softly.

"And you didn't say no before."

He chuckled, faintly, his tone tired but not disapproving.

"Then I suppose my silence betrayed me. Very well, Morena. Do what you must, I will follow along with your decision."

After speaking to her father, she had the same conversation with her sister, Alina; however, she reacted very differently.

"You're serious? You want us to leave everything behind?"

"Yes."

"But what about the estate, the land, the people? They'll say we ran away."

"They can say whatever they want; we won't be here to hear it."

Morena's voice didn't waver.

"They can call it whatever they want, but we'll still be alive when their loyalty costs them their heads."

Alina didn't reply right away, her gaze drifting to the bandage still wrapped around her arm. The fire within her wanted to burn bright and fight, not wanting to back down.

But after the attack, she knew that it was only a matter of time before something worse happened. She wasn't worried for herself; she was worried about her brother and her family.

She didn't want them getting hurt because she wanted to fight.

"Alright, then I'll prepare my things. When do we leave?"

"In the evening tomorrow."

Her eyes shot open, and she practically jumped out of her seat, not expecting it to be so soon, but she didn't protest against the timeframe; she just started preparing her things right away.

Her brother, Lorian, didn't need convincing.

He didn't ask questions, only clenched his small hands into fists.

"I don't want to lose anyone else."

Morena smiled faintly and placed a hand on his head.

"You won't, that's why we need to leave."

That same night, she wrote several letters.

Each one was addressed to the families and allies who had once stood beside them: House Brenle, House Velthorne, and a few others who still held their own against the Church's influence.

The letters were short and vague, written in code. She mentioned the Church and their attack, as well as how they had set them up in order to wipe them out but failed the first time around because they had underestimated them. But she also mentioned that they would do it again, and that they might turn to them once they were out of the picture.

She warned them to make their own plans and preparations, and that she wished them luck but had to put her family first. She never mentioned where they were going, just that they were leaving.

And one final message to each at the bottom of the page.

"Ravenscroft will stand again. When the smoke clears, seek the stars."

By dawn, they had gathered all the soldiers and workers and informed them of the move; many of them were shocked, panicked, and some were even fearful or worried.

But she didn't force them to make a choice; she simply told them they had one hour to make their choice and prepare; if they wished to leave with them, they were to meet them at a specific spot.

It was also at this time that she sent the letters out; they would arrive at their destinations after they had left.

But at noon, they were gone. They left without any banners and no grand farewell.

They took an empty path out of the city and left in the misty air.

The carriages rolled out one by one through the mist, escorted by a force of riders. The guards at the gate didn't question the convoy that carried the Ravenscroft crest, even with the large number that were moving.

Morena rode at the front, her cloak drawn tightly around her shoulders, her spear strapped to her side. The morning air was cold, the kind that set an atmosphere and brought about a mixture of emotions.

She didn't look back.

Behind her, the city faded into the haze. The estate she grew up in, the halls that once echoed with laughter, the graves of those who had fallen, all of it slowly disappeared into the distance.

Adolf rode beside her in silence for a long time before finally speaking.

"What now?"

"Now we move forward."

Her tone was calm.

"We'll stop by the outpost near the forest, rest for a few days, then continue. Once we cross the border, we'll be outside the Church's reach."

"And after that?"

Morena's eyes stayed forward, her expression unreadable.

"After that, we rebuild."

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