He could feel their stares burning into his back until the very end.
And he knew .. his stance had likely failed to convince them.
Even so, he kept walking.
He did not turn back.
Not until he returned to Ashvarn and vanished from their sight.
The moment he stepped once more into the City of Ash, Ethan exhaled slowly.
"That was difficult… just as I expected. Human relationships really don't suit me."
He muttered under his breath, slipping both hands into his pockets as he continued walking.
Now that he was alone ..
And with time to spare before meeting Asterion ..
It was time to put his plan into motion.
"Let's see… if I want to win, I'll need to play every card properly."
And the first step ..
Was acquiring a crucial tool.
Ethan wandered through the streets for a while, searching.
Until he found what he needed.
A guard.
One of the Heart soldiers who patrolled Ashvarn to maintain order.
