The conference hall gradually emptied.
One after another, the Awakened members collected their weapons before leaving the room. Their footsteps echoed through the stone corridor until only two people remained inside.
Nora.
And Rose.
The silence between them felt strangely comfortable.
Rose stretched her arms lazily before letting out a long sigh.
"I knew she'd volunteer you."
Nora slowly opened her eyes.
The essence circulating through her body gradually settled back into her Soul Core.
She looked as calm as ever.
"You sound disappointed."
Rose laughed weakly.
"I am."
She leaned against the edge of the long table.
"I invited you because I wanted to help you gain experience."
"Not because I wanted to throw you into the middle of a fight between Awakened."
Nora slowly stood.
"I'll manage."
Rose shook her head.
"That's exactly what worries me."
"You always say that."
"And somehow..."
"...you always end up surviving."
She paused.
"But survival isn't the same as safety."
Nora smiled faintly.
"You sound like my mother."
Rose chuckled.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
The two slowly walked out of the conference hall.
Outside, hunters bustled throughout Blackbone Shelter.
Some sharpened weapons.
Others loaded wagons with supplies.
While merchants loudly advertised monster meat, relics, and freshly obtained Data.
Life inside the shelter continued as though tomorrow wasn't another dangerous expedition.
Rose glanced toward Nora.
"So..."
"You're really not scared?"
Nora remained silent for several seconds.
Finally she answered.
"I've already seen what happens."
Rose frowned.
"You saw another vision?"
Nora nodded.
"It wasn't clear."
"I rarely receive complete visions."
"They're usually fragments."
Rose became interested.
"What did you see?"
Nora looked toward the distant mountains beyond the shelter walls.
"I saw darkness."
"A very deep darkness."
"The kind that swallows light."
She slowly closed her eyes.
"There was an enormous abyss."
"It wasn't natural."
"It felt..."
"...alive."
Rose's expression gradually became serious.
"And?"
"I saw us falling."
"Everyone?"
"I'm not sure."
"I only remember us falling endlessly."
Silence followed.
Rose had accompanied Nora long enough to understand one thing.
Nora never joked about her visions.
Ever.
"What do you think it means?"
Nora sighed softly.
"I don't know."
"But I know it's connected to this expedition."
Rose folded her arms.
"So you're saying..."
"...we shouldn't go?"
Nora shook her head immediately.
"No."
Rose blinked.
"Why not?"
"Because it won't matter."
Rose frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Nora smiled bitterly.
"I've learned something over the past year."
"Some futures can change."
"Others..."
"...simply refuse to."
She lowered her gaze.
"This one feels inevitable."
Rose looked troubled.
"You really hate Fate, don't you?"
Nora laughed quietly.
"Hate?"
"I don't even know if that's the right word."
She continued walking.
"I hate being told what will happen."
"I hate seeing people die before it happens."
"I hate knowing something terrible is coming..."
"...without knowing how to stop it."
Rose didn't interrupt.
She simply listened.
Nora continued.
"But strangely enough..."
"...I also depend on Fate."
"My visions save people."
"They've saved me."
"They've saved Sophia."
"They've saved countless others."
She sighed.
"So I suppose..."
"...my relationship with Fate is complicated."
Rose smiled.
"Sounds familiar."
"My relationship with flowers isn't much better."
Nora glanced toward her.
Rose laughed awkwardly.
"They make me stronger."
"They also try to kill me."
"So..."
"I guess we're both cursed."
The two shared a quiet laugh.
After several minutes of walking, they arrived outside the shelter's northern gate.
A large stone road stretched into the distance.
Rose reached into her coat and retrieved the expedition map.
The parchment was surprisingly heavy.
Its edges had become worn from years of use.
She handed it to Nora.
"You wanted this."
Nora accepted it carefully.
"I'll study it."
Rose nodded.
"You have roughly two hours."
"I'll gather supplies."
"When you're finished..."
"Anchor your consciousness to Blackbone Shelter."
Nora tilted her head.
"Anchor?"
Rose smiled.
"You've never done it before?"
Nora shook her head.
Rose pointed toward the massive crystal positioned above the shelter walls.
"Every Citadel possesses a Core."
"If you synchronize your essence with it before leaving..."
"...your sleeping pod will automatically send your consciousness back here."
"No more walking across half the continent every time."
Nora's eyes widened slightly.
"So that's how everyone travels so efficiently."
Rose laughed.
"I was wondering when you'd figure that out."
She took another step before stopping.
"Oh."
"I almost forgot."
"What?"
Rose looked directly into Nora's eyes.
"If you truly believe something terrible is waiting..."
"...why are you still smiling?"
Nora looked down at the map in her hands.
Then she answered quietly.
"Because fear doesn't change the future."
"If an abyss truly awaits us..."
"...I'd rather meet it while smiling."
Rose stared at her.
Then slowly smiled herself.
"You really are something else."
Nora turned around.
"I'll see you in two hours."
Rose waved.
"Don't get lost."
As Nora disappeared into the busy streets of Blackbone Shelter, Rose's smile slowly faded.
She looked toward the distant Misty Mountains.
A strange feeling settled inside her heart.
For the first time since becoming an Initiate
She genuinely hoped Nora's vision was wrong.
Unfortunately...
Deep inside...
She had the unsettling feeling that it wasn't.