The forest's morning was unusually serene. Sunlight pierced through layers of canopy, casting a rare vitality onto the wilderness suffused with rift energy. The air carried the scent of earth and moss, but the tranquility failed to dispel the weight pressing on my heart.
Suella walked ahead, her steps light yet resolute, with the bow on her back swaying slightly with her movements. Her silhouette resembled a moving fortress, cold and steadfast, but I could faintly sense a ripple of emotion beneath her surface.
"What's our goal for today?" I attempted to break the silence with a casual tone.
"Find the next rift core," she replied coldly without turning around, her voice lacking its usual softness.
It was clear that last night's events had caused her to rebuild her emotional walls.
