Chapter 26 The Weight of Attention
Darius pulled Mara and Veth behind a ruined stone wall as another imperial patrol marched down the main road. "They are checking every traveler now. We go around through the forest. No main roads today."
Veth grinned, clearly thriving on the tension. "Let them come. I have not broken anything interesting in days. This hiding is making me restless."
"Quiet," Darius said firmly. "We avoid unnecessary fights. There are too many eyes on us already."
Mara stayed close to his side, her golden eyes scanning the horizon with visible discomfort. "I hate this. Too many people. Too much noise. They stare like we are some traveling spectacle meant for their entertainment."
The continent had changed dramatically in the weeks since the second bond. News of the man bonded to two Calamities no longer traveled as rumor. It had become continental news. Cities began locking their gates at the first whisper of Calamity movement. Entire towns reinforced their walls and doubled their guards. Religious factions in the villages they passed called Darius an omen of the end times. Some priests blessed weapons against him. Others openly prayed for his death from the pulpit.
Mercenaries no longer hunted him only for gold. Many now chased him for prestige alone. The man who tamed the Calamities was becoming a living legend, and legends made careers.
Darius adjusted their route again, leading them through narrow, overgrown forest trails instead of the main road. "Every marriage increases visibility as much as power. We gain strength, but the target on our backs grows larger. Soon there may be nowhere left to hide."
Veth laughed loudly. "Good. Let the whole world come looking. I am War. Chaos suits me perfectly."
Mara’s voice was quieter, edged with irritation. "It does not suit me. I was meant to be feared from a distance. Not gawked at like some exotic beast in a cage."
They reached a small checkpoint town by late afternoon. The gates had been reinforced with fresh iron bars and guarded by twice the normal number of soldiers. A large crowd had gathered near the entrance, whispering excitedly as the three travelers approached.
"Look," someone hissed loudly. "It’s him. The prince with the monsters."
A mother quickly pulled her children back into an alley. A priest made a frantic warding sign and began muttering prayers. Darius kept his expression neutral and continued walking forward at a steady pace.
A young guard stepped out to block their path, his spear trembling slightly in his hands. "State your business here."
"Passing through," Darius answered calmly. "We need basic supplies. Nothing more."
The guard’s eyes darted nervously between Mara and Veth. "We... we don’t want trouble in our town. The whole continent is talking about you. Some say you ended the Great War single-handedly. Others say you will start something far worse."
Veth smirked. "Both versions can be true depending on the day."
Darius shot her a warning look. "We are not here for trouble. Just food, water, and a place to rest for one night."
After a tense negotiation and a thorough search, they were finally allowed through the gates. But the entire town watched their every move. People peered from windows and doorways. Merchants closed their stalls early. Children pointed openly despite their parents’ frantic attempts to stop them.
Veth walked with a confident swagger. "I like this kind of attention. Makes everything feel more alive. More exciting."
Mara stayed pressed close to Darius, her shoulders visibly tense. "I dislike crowds intensely. They press too close. Their fear tastes... wrong. Heavy."
Darius kept scanning side streets and alleys, constantly adapting their path to avoid the busiest areas. "We stay one night only. No incidents. We leave at first light tomorrow."
That evening in the crowded market square, they attempted to buy supplies as quietly as possible. It proved impossible. A crowd quickly formed at a respectful but still intrusive distance, whispering furiously among themselves.
"Is it true he controls them with dark magic?"
"Look at her eyes... infected gold. She could kill us all with one touch."
"The big red-haired one looks like she could crush a warhorse."
A small girl, no more than six years old, suddenly broke away from her mother’s grip and ran straight toward them before anyone could stop her. She stopped right in front of Mara, staring up with wide, innocent eyes.
"Why does she look lonely?" the child asked, pointing directly at Mara.
Mara froze completely.
The entire market square fell into sudden, heavy silence. The mother gasped in horror and rushed forward to grab her daughter, but it was too late. The innocent question hung in the air like a blade pressed against skin.
Mara stood perfectly still, her golden eyes locked on the small girl. For the first time in three thousand years, someone had looked at the Plague Incarnate and seen something other than death or terror.
The child tilted her head curiously. "You look sad. Like my doll when I leave her alone too long."
Mara’s hand twitched slightly at her side. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
The mother finally reached them, scooping up her daughter with pure terror in her eyes. "I’m so sorry…please don’t hurt her…she didn’t mean anything by it…"
Darius raised a hand gently. "It is fine. She meant no harm."
But Mara remained frozen, staring at the empty spot where the child had stood. The weight of hundreds of fearful eyes suddenly felt different. Heavier. More complicated.
Veth chuckled softly beside them. "Well. That is something new."
Darius touched Mara’s arm lightly. "We should go."
As they left the square, Darius felt the truth settle deeper into his bones. Every marriage brought more power. But it also brought more eyes. More questions. More danger.
And soon, there might truly be nowhere left to hide.