Evening was descending slowly over the mountain range, casting long golden rays across the jagged peaks and painting the sky in hues of orange, violet, and deep crimson. The air grew cooler, crisper, and the chirping of distant insects echoed softly through the narrow passes. Alex stood still for a moment on the winding trail, eyes half-lidded, taking in the shifting landscape. He could have pressed forward and reached the city by nightfall, but he didn't.
He chose peace.
The tension that had followed him from the trials, the adrenaline of battle, and the sharp mental awareness he had clung to all day began to fade. He turned to Nyx, who walked a few steps behind him, her presence silent and ethereal as ever.
"This is enough for today," Alex said, glancing around the ridge where they stood. A soft plateau extended a little ahead, framed by a crescent of tall pines and scattered boulders. It overlooked a wide valley below, mist curling between the trees like slow-moving ghosts.
