Chapter 733: Beginning of the Descent
We were quiet as we left the ashes of Jaedon behind. I leaned back against R’lissea, eyes closed as I pet Borealis, who roosted in my lap. My thoughts were filled with the countless lives I’d seen touched by the Black Mist, many of whom hadn’t even imagined its existence yet. It hadn’t spread far yet, but it would. Very soon.
R’lissea’s arms were draped around my waist. She caressed me idly, nor in any sort of sensual or intentional way, but as if she needed to do something, and pacing wasn’t an option when riding a wolf.
After a few long minutes, she spoke. "Xiviyah, is everything alright? You seem...different."
I tilted my head to look at her without turning around. "Hmm? What do you mean?"
She bit the inside of her lip. "I mean...you’re more confident. I never could have imagined you ordering the destruction of an entire town like that."
"Was it wrong of me? Could we have saved them?" I asked.
"No, nothing like that. We still don’t understand what Connor unleashed on us, but anyone could see it was too late for Jaedon. I was just surprised at how decisive you were."
"It’s because she finally slept by herself!" Elise said, laughing.
"What? No, not that," I said, tail twitching. "What you said last night made a lot of sense. I’ve been so worried about choosing the right path, I’ve forgotten that the choice was already made. From now on, I’m going to walk the path I’m on no matter what follows."
"Last night? Did we talk about that?"
She sounded genuinely confused. Perhaps, were it Elise, I would pass it off as teasing. But R’lissea?