Chapter 19: Departure
We arrived at the camp just as dawn began to break.
Ever since we had leveled up, sleeping every night was no longer necessary. Nor was eating or drinking. Those gestures had become secondary... useful only to soothe the mind, to regenerate mentally.
But when we returned, the group was already ready. Elsa and the others were waiting for us, silent.
We had barely found each other again. Barely felt that warmth, that strength born from our unity.
And yet... we had to part ways again.
The goodbyes were brief, but heavy with meaning.
No one really wanted to speak. In every gaze, there was silent distress, bottled-up frustration. A wounded tenderness.
We had just reunited, and already we had to say goodbye.
Each group headed in a direction opposite the others.
Four distinct paths, four hopes cast into the unknown, to find another way. A way without sacrifice.
Once alone, once we had set off...