As the carts began disappearing through the glowing portal, Lance paused to cast one last, lingering glance at Addison's carriage—his expression torn between duty and longing. Then, without another word, he stepped into the portal himself.
Meanwhile, Elric dashed toward his assigned carriage, where his disciples were already waiting, ready to accompany him to the West.
By the time Addison woke up, they had already passed through the portal and left the checkpoint behind. The caravan was well on its way to the West, and to her surprise, she hadn't felt a thing.
She'd been in a deep, dreamless sleep. Her entire body ached with soreness, yet she also felt oddly refreshed—like she'd been reborn. It was a strange but invigorating sensation, something she had never experienced before.
