As the silence stretched between them, Luke felt a revelation dawn upon him. The stillness brought an uncomfortable realisation—the distance between him and Ilyrana was palpable. They knew so little about each other's pasts, sharing only the present, an uneasy alliance built on necessity rather than understanding. He knew that if they were to continue travelling together, something had to change. He needed to open up, to bridge that gap.
Taking a deep breath, Luke decided to start the conversation.
"Ilyrana," he began, his voice cutting through the silence, "I think it's time we know more about each other. I'll start first. Have you ever heard of the faiths here? Like Noirist, Antinoirist, and so on?"
Ilyrana looked at him with a hint of curiosity.
"I haven't," she replied simply. "The elves have always kept themselves apart from humans, avoiding their beliefs and customs. We live by our ways, untouched by human faiths."
