Elara stopped in her tracks, her wings drooping slightly as she took it all in. The sheer beauty of the scene overwhelmed her, and tears welled up in her eyes. She clutched at Arpious' arm, her grip trembling, and leaned her head against her shoulder as the tears spilled over. "It's… it's so beautiful," she whispered, her voice breaking with emotion.
Arpious turned her head slightly, glancing down at Elara. Her expression softened as she reached out to place a steadying hand on Elara's back. "It is," she agreed quietly, her voice uncharacteristically gentle. "This is the world they deserve. The world we fought for."
Elara straightened slightly, wiping at her tears but failing to stop their flow entirely. "It's not just the beauty," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of awe and joy. "It's the hope. Everything feels alive again. The air, the sky, the earth—it's like… like it's singing."
