Khali's Point of View
As we walked to the meeting room, I couldn't help but steal glances at Ziya. Her face was a mask of determination, but I knew her well enough to see the exhaustion and worry hidden beneath the surface. I wanted to reach out, to offer her comfort, but I knew that she needed to keep her focus right now. There would be time for comforting later.
When we arrived at the meeting room, the others were already waiting. The children were playing on the floor with some wooden blocks, their laughter a stark contrast to the grim expressions on the adults' faces. Elara, Liora, and Aeliana stood off to the side, whispering amongst themselves, their eyes flicking to Ziya as we entered.
"Good morning, everyone," Ziya said, her voice steady. "I know it's been a rough few days, but we're getting closer to the end. Today, we need to go over our plans for leaving Arcanthia and make sure everyone is prepared."
