"You... want to save the world?"
Moonlight illuminated the city as the carriage slowly moved through the night in Tobesk, and Shard looked at the hand.
"No, I just want to ensure the world doesn't perish because of this. It sounds ridiculous, I know, not something a Three Ring Sorcerer should concern themselves with, but I have seen it—the survival of this world hinges on the chosen ones who will ultimately stand before the door. Whether all thirteen are present, just a few, or even one, each scenario will lead to different outcomes. The optimal choice—I can only know once I have met them."
Shard met the woman's purple gaze for a moment, then reached out and took her hand. A smile flickered on her lips, but when she tried to pull her hand back, she found that Shard did not let go. Of course, he did not mean to take advantage, his voice was low:
