Aya continued running with the children, her heart pounding in her chest, and tears streaming down her face.
"Mom, I'm scared," Liliana whimpered, running as fast as she could.
"I know, sweetie. I'm scared too," Aya replied, her voice trembling. "But we have to keep going. We can't stop."
Suddenly, they heard Verrin's voice echoing through the city, filled with love and sorrow. "AYA AND KIDS, I LOVE YOU ALL! REMEMBER THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT, YOU HAVE BEEN THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED-"
Aya and the kids stopped in their tracks, their hearts sinking as they turned toward the source of the voice. Tears welled up in Aya's eyes as she whispered, "Verrin..." Her grief was palpable, but she wiped her tears. "LET'S GO. NOW!" she ordered, as she wiped away her tears.
As they reached the outskirts of the duchy, they heard a voice in the distance. "There they are."
