"Huh?!" The astonishment in her voice was palpable, a far cry from the cold, mechanical tone she once used. It was as if, in just two days, her speech had transformed into something more human.
"Your son—he's out..."
Her eyes widened with joy, and without another word, she sprinted toward the abyss.
"But didn't you say he needed at least a week? It's only been two days!"
Tactus's question went unanswered as she pushed open the door and vanished from his sight, moving faster than she had even during her battle with Desert.
A frown formed on Tactus's face as memories of his son resurfaced, clouding his thoughts with a bitter weight. The turmoil between Rose and Desert had shaken the fragile peace of the barbarian tribe—something unheard of until now.
With a wave of his hand, a portal materialized before him. He stepped through it, unconcerned. If Rose had been patient, they could have traveled together, but her excitement had overtaken her.
