The dungeon spat him out like a wound finally closing.
Owen stumbled onto the plateau, his legs barely holding him. Behind him, the gate flickered once, twice, then collapsed inward with a sound like breaking glass. The third Story dungeon had finally come to an end. The third fragment was his.
He stood alone for a moment, breathing the cold mountain air, letting the present reality settle around him as he Resolved in his find what path he was about to take now. No wounded sky. No armies marching. No Will pressing against his existence. Just wind, stone, and the distant cry of birds.
Then Yuki hit him.
She crossed the distance before he could speak, her arms locking around his neck, her face buried against his chest. Uru pulsed wildly on her shoulder, its light flaring with relief.
"You were gone for days," she said into his armor. "For days, Owen."
"It felt like years." His arms came up around her. "I'm here."
