Liam stood in the dim light of Vanessa's modest home, the weight of unspoken truths pressing down on his chest like an anchor. The familiar scent of herbs and woodsmoke lingered in the air, grounding him even as his mind raced ahead to the dangers lurking beyond this continent.
Vanessa studied him closely, her sharp eyes narrowing with concern. "Tell me what's wrong," she said softly, setting aside the cloth she'd been folding.
Liam let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. He had rehearsed this moment in his head a dozen times, yet the words still felt heavy on his tongue. "This continent… it's not what we thought. It's like the back of a massive monster. The real power, the real opportunities, they're on the main continent. That's where everything important is happening."
