Chapter 96: The Roads We Choose
The morning arrived quietly.
No ceremonies.
No grand speeches.
No crowds.
Just a road.
And a decision.
The gates of Yggdrasil stood open.
The same gates that had welcomed them months ago.
The same gates that had welcomed countless travelers.
And now—
The same gates that would send them away.
Again.
Akshay stood near the entrance.
Beside him was Tchoco.
The two watched in silence.
In front of them—
Alice adjusted her travel pack.
Raj checked supplies.
Taai stretched lazily.
The atmosphere felt strange.
Not sad.
Not exactly.
Final.
Like the closing of a chapter.
Nobody wanted to be the first to speak.
So naturally—
Taai ruined it.
"Well."
He yawned.
"If we stand here long enough maybe destiny will solve our problems for us."
Alice immediately smacked him.
"Ow."
"Move."
"Violence isn't the answer."
"It is when you're involved."
Raj nodded.
"Agreed."
Taai looked betrayed.
Tchoco laughed.
Akshay shook his head.
Some things really never changed.
The laughter slowly faded.
And silence returned.
This time—
Nobody interrupted it.
Because they all understood.
This was it.
The last time the original group would stand together.
At least for a very long time.
Akshay looked at them.
Alice.
Raj.
Taai.
Friends he had known for years.
Friends who survived things nobody should survive.
Friends who had crossed an entire world together.
And now—
They were leaving.
Again.
Akshay smiled.
A small smile.
"Take care of yourselves."
Alice nodded.
"You too."
Taai pointed.
"Try not to become a boring king."
"I'm already a king."
"Exactly."
Raj sighed.
"Please don't start."
Tchoco stepped forward.
Unlike everyone else—
He wasn't carrying supplies.
Or equipment.
Or travel gear.
Because he wasn't leaving.
His path had already been chosen long ago.
"I'll stay here."
He said.
Nobody looked surprised.
Because everyone knew.
Tchoco had always been the one who looked ahead.
The one who worried about people he'd never met.
Future drifters.
Future arrivals.
Future confused strangers waking up in an unfamiliar world.
Someone had to help them.
Someone had to guide them.
Tchoco volunteered years ago.
And nothing had changed.
Alice smiled.
"Still doing that?"
"Someone has to."
Raj nodded.
"Fair."
Tchoco looked toward the horizon.
"The next batch won't have Brennan."
Silence.
"But maybe they'll have us."
Nobody replied.
Because they understood exactly what he meant.
The next drifters would arrive confused.
Scared.
Lost.
Just like they once were.
And someone would need to help them.
Just like Brennan once helped them.
Akshay extended a hand.
Tchoco accepted it.
No words needed.
Friends understood.
Then Akshay turned toward Taai.
"What about you?"
Taai grinned.
"Heard there's a settlement north of here."
Alice rolled her eyes.
"That's your plan?"
"Pretty much."
"That's not a plan."
"It is."
"No."
"Yes."
Raj sighed.
"Please tell me you at least know where you're going."
Taai pointed vaguely north.
"There."
Everyone stared.
Akshay covered his face.
Tchoco laughed.
Alice looked ready to throw something.
Somehow—
That answer felt perfectly fitting.
Eventually—
Taai shrugged.
"I'll figure it out."
And strangely enough—
Everyone believed him.
Because Taai always did.
Then Alice spoke.
"I'm heading to Inhayle."
The group became quiet.
Inhayle.
The trading hub they passed through years ago.
The place where roads connected.
The place where merchants gathered.
The place where opportunity existed.
Akshay nodded.
"I thought so."
Alice looked toward the distant south.
"I can build something there."
Not a dream.
Not a hope.
A certainty.
Alice wasn't wondering anymore.
She had decided.
The destruction of Oheyo left a hole in the world.
And Alice intended to fill it.
Raj immediately pointed at herself.
"Good luck."
Then turned around.
"I'll go find somewhere else."
Alice grabbed her tail.
Raj froze.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
She turned around.
"No."
Alice smiled.
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"NO."
"YES."
The argument continued for several minutes.
Nobody intervened.
Because it was funny.
Eventually—
Raj lost.
Not because Alice was stronger.
But because Alice never let go.
Akshay watched the scene.
And laughed.
For the first time in weeks—
A genuine laugh.
Because despite everything—
Despite Oheyo.
Despite Brennan.
Despite the missing friends.
Despite the uncertainty.
Some things remained unchanged.
And perhaps that was enough.
The sun continued rising.
The time finally came.
Alice stepped forward.
Raj followed reluctantly.
Taai stretched one final time.
Then turned toward his own road.
Different directions.
Different futures.
The First Generation was scattering.
Not because they wanted to.
Because life demanded it.
Akshay watched them leave.
Three figures growing smaller.
Smaller.
Smaller.
Until eventually—
They disappeared beyond the road.
Gone.
Only Tchoco remained beside him.
The two stood silently.
Watching the empty path.
Then Tchoco spoke.
"We're getting old."
Akshay laughed.
"We literally don't age."
"Details."
The two continued watching the horizon.
Thinking of Brennan.
Thinking of Akari.
Thinking of Chocomint.
Thinking of the future.
Far away—
Alice looked ahead.
At the road leading toward Inhayle.
A small trading settlement.
Nothing special.
Nothing important.
Not yet.
Beside her—
Raj complained endlessly.
Behind them—
Their old lives slowly faded.
Ahead of them—
A city waited.
One that did not exist yet.
One day—
People would call it Asphyxia.
But for now—
It was merely another road.
And another beginning.