Saffron PoV
Chills ran down my back as a growl echoed behind us. The shadows were rapidly reforming, and the smaller creatures we had fought earlier were beginning to reassemble, their forms flickering into existence as if drawn by an unseen force. Panic surged inside me. We had to get out of here, and fast.
"Gael, listen," I said, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my insides. "I'll stay back and buy us some time. You need to get to safety."
"What? No way!" Gael shot back, disbelief and urgency evident in his expression. "I'm not leaving you behind!"
"Setsuka and Seb are waiting for you to return!" I reminded him, hoping to appeal to his sense of responsibility. "They need you."
Gael shook his head vigorously. "And Rose and Anis are waiting for you to come back once this mission ends! I'm not going to let you sacrifice yourself while I run away!"
