Arthur returned to camp, a burlap sack slung over his shoulder, filled with a mixture of berries, strange roots, and small, skinned animals. His steps were steady, his expression as unreadable as ever.
Sosuke sat by the smoldering remains of the campfire, a small knife in hand, scraping away at the faint stubble on his jaw. He glanced up as Arthur approached, his violet eyes narrowing slightly. "You could say it's a good thing we were shoved into a forest to fend for ourselves. It may have been morally wrong, but at least it taught us how to survive." He tossed the knife into the dirt beside him, locking eyes with Arthur. "Speaking of morals, I've been wondering something. What kind of asshole abandons his team during a fight?"
Arthur dropped the sack onto the ground with a dull thud. The smell of fresh blood and bitter forest scents wafted through the air as he unrolled the top. "Listen, Sosuke," he began, his tone calm but edged with steel. "I don't think you understand me at all. We may be on the same team, but my goal has nothing to do with you—or anyone else. I'll become something even my father can't ignore. If anything, you're holding me back, Estrella."
Sosuke shot to his feet, the tension radiating off him palpable. "What's with this sudden change in attitude? You were so complacent, so willing to work with us before!" His voice rose, sharp and accusing. "Why is everyone switching up suddenly…?" he muttered under his breath.
Arthur let out a short breath, more of a scoff than a sigh, and sat on a nearby log. He pulled out his blade, methodically running a clean rag along its edge. "Change in attitude? I haven't changed. I followed orders before because it benefited me. This time, I was expected to die for someone I barely knew." He glanced at Sosuke, his expression cold and resolute. "I don't hide my motives, and I don't lie about them either. Every action I take is for my benefit. If it doesn't serve me, there's no point."
Before Sosuke could respond, a groggy voice broke through the air.
Ren sat up from his resting spot, his face pale but his silver eyes sharp as he stretched and winced. "What happened?"
Lyra paced back and forth, her steps sharp and hurried, before rounding on Ren, her voice rising. "You've got some nerve! Running out on us like that and acting like it was no big deal. Do you even care what we went through?!"
Ren stood by a tree, his arms crossed and his expression neutral, though a flicker of frustration crossed his silver eyes. "Lyra, calm down. I didn't run out on anyone. I did what I thought was necessary to help the team."
"Necessary?" Lyra's voice cracked with disbelief as she gestured wildly. "You left us! If that's your idea of helping, then I'd hate to see what failing looks like."
Ren sighed, running a hand through his white hair. "I'm not saying I handled it perfectly, but we all made it out alive, didn't we? You're blowing this out of proportion."
"Blowing it out of proportion?!" Lyra's voice trembled with anger as she stepped closer to him. "We trusted you, Ren! I trusted you! And you just walked away like we didn't matter!"
Ren held up his hands, his voice calm but firm. "I didn't walk away, Lyra. I made a call in the moment. You can question my methods all you want, but I wasn't trying to abandon anyone. I don't deserve this attack from you."
"Then what do you deserve, huh? A pat on the back for leaving us to clean up the mess?" Lyra's eyes glistened, but she blinked hard to keep the tears from falling.
Ren's shoulders stiffened, and his voice dropped to a quieter, more restrained tone. "I get that you're angry. I get that. But I'm not your enemy here, Lyra. Yelling at me isn't going to change what happened."
They stood in tense silence for a moment, Lyra's breaths heavy and uneven as she stared at him, searching for something in his expression. But Ren remained calm, his frustration subdued, his gaze steady.
Finally, Lyra shook her head, her voice quieter but no less cutting. "You don't get it, Ren. You just don't."
Ren opened his mouth to respond but stopped himself, exhaling instead. He turned back toward the campfire, leaving Lyra standing there, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.
"It's time to move," he said, his tone low and sharp. "We've wasted enough time."
Arthur raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Oh, so you're in charge now? When did that happen?"
Sosuke didn't spare him a glance. "Since the Crimson Shadow left us, someone has to make decisions. Or do you want to sit here and wait for the next Blight to find us?" His words cut like a blade, leaving no room for argument. "Staying in one place is suicide. This isn't just some forest back on Earth. We're in their world."
The group exchanged uneasy glances but stayed silent. Without another word, they gathered what little they had and followed Sosuke's lead. The jagged landscape stretched endlessly ahead, the air thick with tension and the faint stench of decay.
Far behind the group, Lyra and Reid lagged in an awkward silence. Lyra kicked a loose rock down the path, her hands stuffed into her pockets. Finally, she broke the quiet.
"Hey, brother." Her voice was tentative, the words hesitant.
Reid glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Been a while, hasn't it, sis? Where've you been?"
Lyra hesitated, her eyes fixed on the cracked ground beneath their feet. "Learning. Fighting. Surviving. I just…" She trailed off before looking up at him. "I just wish you'd been there with me."
Reid blinked, his steps faltering slightly. "Really? I thought… I don't know, I figured you hated me or something."
"Hate you?" Lyra's voice rose, her brows furrowing as she shot him a glance. "Why would I hate you?"
Reid shrugged, a bitter chuckle escaping him. "I don't know. I guess I figured you'd be like the rest of the Valcrest family. Like him."
Lyra's expression softened, and she reached out to place a hand on his shoulder. "You're an idiot, you know that? I'm glad we found each other again, no matter how long it's been."
Reid's smile turned wistful. "You know, Mom misses you. A lot."
Lyra blinked, her breath hitching. "She… does? Even though I didn't go with her?"
"Of course she does. You should visit sometime," Reid said, his tone light but sincere.
Lyra smiled faintly. "Maybe I will. Who cares what he thinks?"
Up ahead, Sosuke marched in silence, his every step deliberate and heavy. His purple eyes burned with a quiet fury as he stared into the endless horizon. Rin, walking beside him, hesitated before reaching for his hand.
"How are you holding up?" she asked gently.
Sosuke didn't look at her, his gaze unyielding. "Like I need to destroy something," he said flatly. "Everyone last one of my family members were murdered. I need him gone."
Rin's hand tightened around his briefly, her voice calm but firm. "Sosuke, you can't carry all of this alone. We'll figure this out together—"
"You don't get it, Rin," he snapped, pulling his hand away. His fists clenched tightly, sparks of lightning crackling faintly along his skin. "It's not just revenge. It's personal now. Gabriel sent me to that cave, and I found… things. A room built by someone from my family. Books. Histories. Secrets." His voice grew darker, his jaw tightening. "It's like I can feel them now, every one of them, watching me. And I know I can't let this go."
Rin stepped in front of him, forcing him to stop. "Sosuke, listen to me. I know you're angry, but this isn't the way. You're going to burn yourself out if you don't calm down—"
"I don't need to calm down!" His voice thundered, the faint hum of electricity intensifying around him. "What I need is to make him pay."
Rin's shoulders slumped slightly, but she didn't step aside. "And what happens to us? To the team? What happens if this rage ends up consuming you?"
Sosuke's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. He brushed past her, the sparks flickering erratically as he pushed ahead.
The group continued in silence, the tension palpable as the landscape seemed to stretch endlessly before them.