The confidence the young man had gained was incomparable to the cowardice he had displayed just weeks earlier. His gaze was steady, his intentions resolute, and his demeanor calm. He had crafted a flawless plan that had unfolded without incident thus far. Aside from the delayed death of his brother, everything was shaping up perfectly.
Despite the brisk, invigorating mountain breeze, Riga remained unshaken. His neutral expression betrayed no hint of his inner thoughts. While his body stood present, his soul seemed to have departed, leaving his physical form behind.
The mental fortitude he had lacked in the past had transformed him into a figure of unyielding composure, to the point of complete self-effacement. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he failed to notice the presence behind him.
Standing silently by his side, the figure gazed at the horizon and spoke:
