Chapter 1965

The day before Manfred and Vivian reached Graystone, they found themselves stranded on the main road. Due to several days of continuous rain, a significant amount of rocks and debris had fallen down from the mountain, blocking the road. At the moment, this was the only road passable. The local authorities had already started clearing the way, but it would take time. Manfred left a few of his men behind to assist with the cleanup while the rest of the group made their way to a nearby village to rest. Manfred had already sent word ahead to the villagers, arranging for any vacant houses to accommodate them temporarily. Vivian, curious about the village built against the mountainside, decided to explore. After settling in, she wandered around the village while Manfred stayed behind to handle urgent matters after receiving a letter. Kemp accompanied Vivian on her walk. Kemp pointed toward a river not far away and said to Vivian, "Ms. Martin, there's a river over there. It looks like