The night sky was thick and dim, swallowing the faint outline of the road ahead.
Outside the Moon Tribe's territory, Luciel led Elara and Ariel toward the massive silhouette resting in the shadows — the Rock Tortoise.
"Luciel," Elara asked softly, glancing at the heavy sack of beast spars in his hand, "the Moon Lord gave you all those spars so suddenly. Do you think she's hiding some other intention?"
Luciel's lips curved into a small, unreadable smile.
"That depends on how you look at it," he said. "Maybe she's afraid I won't come back to save them next time… or maybe she's just being grateful. Either way, intentions or not, the spars are ours now. That's all that matters."
Elara nodded but didn't look relieved. Her silver-white eyes flickered with hesitation. "I just… I mean, if we take in that many people, won't the Black Tortoise get too crowded?"
Her voice lowered as if afraid the night itself would judge her words.
