Jana awoke on the sandy shore, bruised and exhausted, her clothes torn and soaked. Panic surged through her as she looked around, desperately searching for any sign of her crew. Seeing nothing but the endless stretch of beach, her heart sank. "They're all gone," she whispered, the weight of her words pressing down on her.

Despair clawed at her heart. She felt utterly alone, abandoned by fate in a hostile land. For a moment, the magnitude of her losses overwhelmed her, and she fought back tears, the ache of grief nearly unbearable. Memories of happier times with her crew flooded her mind—moments of laughter and camaraderie, the bonds forged through shared hardships and victories. She had promised herself she wouldn't care about them, to stay detached, but now the pain of their loss was nearly unbearable. The image of the brutal attack came rushing back to her. She saw the terror and chaos, the screams of her crew, the bloodshed. Her heart pounded as she relived the horrors, her body aching from the remembered violence.

Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of a distant flag fluttering in the breeze. She squinted at it, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing. It wasn't the flag of Valtoria. She cursed everything under her breath, feeling an overwhelming sense of defeat. She was in Drakovia, the neighboring kingdom known for its tight borders and tyrannical rule.

Jana stood motionless, feeling too tired to even process her emotions anymore. The weight of her situation bore down on her, and she felt as though she was turning to stone, unable to move or think.

After allowing herself a moment to mourn, Jana shook her head, wiping her eyes. "I don't have time for this," she muttered.

The village she stumbled upon was bleak and oppressed, with an air of rebellion and fear hanging heavily in the atmosphere. The people lived poorly, their clothes ragged, their faces gaunt. Jana's appearance, disheveled and worn, wasn't out of place here. She approached an inn, hoping for a place to rest, but was brutally pushed away. "Vagrant, get out!" the innkeeper snarled, shoving her into the street.

Tired of fighting back and lacking the strength, Jana let the innkeeper shove her away. She turned around with her head lowered, the death of her crew affecting her deeper than she had realized. She spent the night in the alley, huddled against the cold stone wall, rats scurrying around her. As she shivered, a little girl with big, curious eyes approached her, offering a piece of bread. "You look hungry," the girl said softly.

At first, Jana refused the bread, pride and suspicion holding her back. But her hunger and exhaustion won out. "Thank you," she replied, her voice hoarse

"I'm Aveline, Why are you out here?" ," the girl asked. "

Jana sighed, struggling to find an answer to that simple question. "I'm just passing through," she said quietly. "Lost my way, I suppose."

Aveline looked at her with wide eyes. "My mother says people who get lost find their way if they have a good heart."

"Your mother is a wise woman. Did she not tell you not to talk to strangers?" Jana said, trying to shorten their conversation.

Aveline's expression turned somber. "If my mother had lived longer, she might have told me that."

For a moment, Jana forgot her sorrows. "She surely would have. Thank you for the bread, Aveline." She said while managing a small smile at the little girl. They sat together in the alley, sharing the bread and quiet conversation. The little girl's presence made the cold night a little warmer for both of them.

The next day, Jana cleaned herself as best she could, washing away the grime and sorrow of her recent losses. She explored the village, taking note of everything around her. The people, the buildings, the routines—all of it was valuable information. She didn't change her clothes, blending in with the destitute villagers.

As she wandered, she observed the tight patrols and the fear in people's eyes. Her disheveled appearance allowed her to move unnoticed, her mind always working on a plan. When she was ready for action, she lured a man into an alley, knocked him out, and stole his belongings. She missed the power of her bracelet, which would have made her journey much easier. The bracelet had a feature that allowed her to change her wardrobe instantly, but without the orb, it was useless.

Now dressed in the stolen clothes, Jana felt more confident. She managed to sneak onto a merchant's carriage heading to the capital, hiding among the goods. The journey was long and uncomfortable, but it provided the cover she needed to get closer to her goal.

However, as the carriage traveled, the merchants discovered her. "What's this?" one of them demanded, yanking her out of her hiding spot.

Thinking quickly, Jana feigned innocence. "Please, I just needed a ride. My family is sick, and I need to get medicine for them from the capital," she pleaded.

The merchants eyed her suspiciously but ultimately decided to throw her out. They dumped her far from the capital, leaving her to struggle in the wild. Jana followed the merchant caravan from a distance, eating only what could be easily hunted and warming herself by the leftover fires they abandoned each night.

Days turned into nights, and Jana grew weaker in health and spirit. One evening, as she crept closer to the campfire for warmth, one of the few women in the group noticed her. Moved by pity, the woman helped hide Jana in the caravan, ensuring she wasn't discovered again, and began to secretly pass her leftover food whenever she could.

Jana nodded, grateful for Isolde's kindness. She remained in her hiding spot, using the time to regain her strength and plan her next move. Each day was a struggle, but she knew she had to keep going. Still recovering, she spent most days lost in thought, reflecting on her mission and the recent traumatic events. The memories haunted her, but they also fueled her determination. She needed to find the orb and her brother, and this was the only way forward.

One morning, as the sunbegan to rise, the caravan leader announced their imminent arrival. "We'llbe at the capital by nightfall," he called out. 

As they neared the capital, the caravan bustled with activity. Merchants prepared their goods, eager to sell their wares. Jana stayed hidden among the supplies, listening to the chatter around her. She learned about the city's layout, its bustling markets, and the tight security. The information was invaluable, and she committed it all to memory.

The capital's walls loomed in the distance, tall and imposing. Jana's heart raced as they approached the gates. She knew she had to be cautious; any misstep could lead to her capture. The caravan passed through the gates without incident, and Jana breathed a sigh of relief.

Once inside the capital, Jana waited eagerly to slip away from the caravan before they came to where she was hidden, and she proceeded swiftly while they were busy unloading other carts. She thanked Isolde one last time, her gratitude evident in her eyes. "I won't forget your kindness," she whispered before disappearing into the shadows.

Navigating the crowded streets, Jana marveled at the stark contrast between the opulence of the capital and the poverty of the villages she had passed through. She blended in with the throngs of people, her stolen clothes helping her remain inconspicuous.

Jana's first priority was to gather more information about the timekeepers and any potential allies. She spent her days in the bustling markets, listening to conversations and picking up rumors. She learned that the only way to cross the tightly guarded borders was through the knight soldiers who gathered at the palace. These squadrons rarely crossed into the camps to fight, only doing so after the previous group had been brutally defeated by the Valtorian forces. It was a dangerous and deadly rotation, with each squadron heading into near-certain death.

Determined to find out more, Jana decided to infiltrate the palace and learn about their next departure. She spent days in surveillance, carefully observing the routines of the guards and the movements of the knights. Every detail mattered, from the changing of the guards to the deliveries of supplies. She noted how the squadrons prepared for their grim task, their faces set with a mix of fear and grim determination.

One evening, as she observed the palace from a distance, something incredible caught her eye. Among the knights and nobles, she saw someone who was the vivid image of herself. The sight was both shocking and intriguing, and Jana knew she had to find out more about this mysterious doppelgänger. She continued her surveillance, her mind racing with questions and possibilities.