They didn't linger. By nightfall, Kael had gathered what little he needed, Abyssal Fang, its spiritual essence humming in his grasp; a handful of low-grade healing pills to stabilize his meridians; a new mask, and a spare set of robes pressed into his hands by Voren, their fabric infused with a faint energy ward.
They stood at the edge of the Breachwood Pass as the moon rose, its silver light casting long shadows across the rugged path ahead.
Before he departed, Lysarra stepped forward, her aura steady despite the exhaustion etched into her features. She pressed a small talisman into his palm, its surface etched with a minor binding array, its energy pulsing faintly.
"Call it," she said, her voice firm, her eyes locking with his. "If you're ever in trouble, you can contact me. No matter the distance."
Kael's faint smile returned, a flicker of warmth in the cold night. "You won't have to."
