The morning broke with a chill in the air, and the camp stirred into action. Kael stood at the edge of the settlement, looking out over the horizon where the path ahead stretched like a river, winding and uncertain. The group had spent the night preparing, gathering provisions, and fortifying their resolve. Now, with the Luminal Heart's light in their hearts, they were ready to step beyond the sanctuary they had created.
Morgana stood beside him, her expression unreadable as she gazed at the same horizon. The silence between them was comfortable, filled with the weight of what lay ahead. There were no words needed—both understood the gravity of the journey.
"It feels like we're leaving a part of ourselves behind," Morgana said, her voice soft, though her tone was steady.