Damien did not spare him even a single glance, his eyes remaining fixed forward. He instead turned his head slightly, speaking quietly yet firmly to Lyrisa.
"Steel your heart," Damien whispered gently, his voice steady yet edged with seriousness. He took another determined step ahead, each movement deliberate and measured.
Lyrisa felt a quiet shiver of dread slip down her spine. She nodded once sharply, steeling herself mentally, drawing strength from Damien's calm and unyielding resolve.
Damien continued forward slowly, each step bringing another painful memory to vivid life. Images surged through his mind one after another, moments of despair, rejection, betrayal, disappointment. He relived every wound, every hurtful word, every soul-deep ache he'd ever felt, magnified beyond reason.
