I returned to the forest where Xavier and Xander were still waiting.
Along the way, an oppressive silence wrapped around me, heavy and suffocating. The air itself seemed laced with the scent of blood and steel, a killing intent so palpable that even Cassian, despite his obvious worry, dared not break it. Christine could only shrink behind her brother, trembling.
What exactly had happened while I was gone?
Who was that Davina? Real, or counterfeit?
And what about me? Am I real, or the imitation?
I had just escaped the chaos of Verelen. I thought that returning to Alpengard would finally grant me a sliver of peace.
But… was such a thing truly too extravagant for me to wish for?
Suddenly, a name long buried beneath layers of turmoil flared in my mind, dragging along the last memory of our confrontation.
That blood-red system notification. And Aurora's smug, crooked smile.
[Reconstructing character.]
[Character "Aurora" has been deleted.]
