A heavy silence hovered over the night…
A suffocating stillness...
Everyone had fallen asleep…Voices faded one by one…Until the camp felt completely lifeless...
As if the night itself had swallowed everything...
But the silence… wasn't complete...
Something broke it.
Uneven breathing… sharp… struggling.
It was Raym.
He shot upright, gasping for air, sweat dripping down his face.His eyes were wide… as if trying to escape what he had just seen.
That moment…
Was not normal.
He placed a hand over his chest, trying to steady his heartbeat, then whispered:
"What did she mean…???Live… for your mother…???"
Silence...
Then, heavier:
"Do I… even have one…???"
He looked around...
Darkness filled the room...
No one...
Nothing...
Just silence… echoing back at him.
He shut his eyes tightly, gripping his head.
This pain… wasn't physical...
It ran deeper.
But—
As always—
He took a breath… then another…
"Forget it… like always..."
He lay back down...
Thoughts flooded in… relentless…
Until sleep claimed him again.
It didn't last.
Raym woke to noise.
Movement. Voices. Urgency...
He rushed outside—
A crowd had gathered.
At the center stood Vail.
Holding a letter.
Stained… with blood.
Even the bird that delivered it trembled, barely standing...
Raym stepped forward...
A bad feeling crept into him.
Silence fell.
Vail began reading:
"I hope this reaches you quickly…Please… I need immediate support…It has begun… no—it's about to end…Meet me… where we parted."
…
That wasn't just a message.
It was a cry for help...
The silence that followed… was heavy.
Most were confused.
But Raym—
Understood...
Vail rushed to headquarters.
The commander wasn't there.
But Leo was...
He read the letter.
And his expression changed...
Concern.
Tension.
Realization.
"Gather everyone. Now..."
Soon, the camp stood assembled.
Leo spoke firmly:
"This is no longer a normal situation."
He paused.
"This is bigger than we thought."
Murmurs spread...
"I need a strong team… to move immediately."
Then, quieter:
"I have a bad feeling about this."
Before he could continue—
Raym stepped forward.
"I think I know the place."
Silence.
Leo looked at him… then smiled faintly...
"You've grown."
Then declared:
"You'll lead them."
He pointed:
"Arvela. Aldous. You're with him."
Aldous grinned...
Vail objected.
Daniel stepped forward, exclaiming
, "And I stay here?؟؟ I want to go with them!!!"
Aldous grinned mischievously and teased,
"Oh, don't worry, I'll take good care of your girl...
No harm will come to her!!!"Daniel's face turned bright red with embarrassment,
and laughter erupted around them as he shouted and chased Aldous, "Stop!!! Stop!!!"
Leo gave a faint smile and said, "It's alright, you may go. I suppose Sephar will be back soon…"
Laughter broke tension briefly...
Even Leo allowed it...
Not far away—
Lyra stepped forward...
This time—
She didn't stay behind...
She joined them...
Without a word...
But her eyes said enough...
They prepared...
Weapons ready...
Resolve building...
At the front stood Raym...
Different.
Stronger.
He looked at the sky.
Then at his blade.
Sheathed it...
"I won't run anymore."
Vail watched him leave.
Silently.
Unnoticed.
They moved out.
Raym led...
Until—
He stopped...
"This place…"
He knew it...
This was where everything began.
Where he left them behind...
And walked forward…
With Lorian alone...