Xian Xi
The squeeze is a tight one. I almost can't read.
I heave a deep breath when he releases me.
Behind him is Choi and Jakota. Jakota looks completely different - his hair is messed up and his impeccable robes are tattered and covered with dirt.
Kross, Rames, Huang, Valen… where are Kaven and Tera?
Grasping my unspoken question, Huang steps forward.
"They didn't make it. Tera said I should give this to you." He produces a hairpin.
The hairpin was Tera's family's heirloom.
Why would he want me to have it?
I receive the delicate object with both hands.
"Why would he…" My voice cracks mid-sentence.
"He just wanted you to have it." Valen says, stepping forward to rub my shoulder.
"What really happened?" I ask, my gaze running over all of them.
Five other people that I don't know remain behind.
One of them is a young boy of about sixteen or seventeen, two are men and the other two are women.
No one utters a word.
