The next morning, the fortress was unusually quiet. Rin stood in front of the large map spread across the table in the main hall.
The northern mountains were marked in red ink. Beyond them lay the abandoned observatory.
The place Aiden remembered. The place where the clocks had supposedly shown the future.
Rin stared at the location for several seconds.
"We go there, we look around, and we come back."
Ji-ho raised his hand.
"That sounds suspiciously simple."
Rin looked at him.
"It is simple."
"That's what you said before the forest."
Rin sighed.
"Fair."
Noctis laughed. Sol was checking the supplies.
"We'll be prepared."
Aiden stood quietly near the window. He hadn't said much that morning.
Rin noticed.
"You okay?"
Aiden looked over.
"Yes."
Rin nodded. He didn't ask anything else. He had promised himself he wouldn't force Aiden's memories.
Kaelith approached Rin.
"Ready?"
Rin nodded.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
Kaelith smiled.
"Good."
