Two days after their decision to detour, the obsidian trees of the Forest of Lamentation finally began to thin out.
The sulfurous mists that had accompanied them for nearly a week gradually dissipated, replaced by a dry, crisp air that felt foreign yet refreshing in Dayat's lungs. He took a deep, steady breath, savoring the stark contrast. Outside the Jeep's windows, the sky finally revealed itself—marking the first time in days they had seen a true shade of blue above their heads.
Dayat glanced at Dola sitting beside him. She was staring out the window with a calm expression, though the corners of her lips were curled into a faint, satisfied smile.
"Happy?" Dayat asked.
Dola nodded slowly. "The air is different here. Pristine. My database records the Terragard region as having the second-best air quality in Aethera, surpassed only by Verdia."
"Second? So Verdia is still better?"
