Edrin stared at the map like it might somehow become less terrifying if he looked at it long enough.
It did not.
"…So just to confirm," he said slowly, "the plan is to go to the place where all the dangerous things are coming from…"
"Yes," Seris said.
"…and stop them."
"Yes."
Edrin nodded.
"…That's a terrible plan."
Ronan grinned. "It's a great plan."
"It's a simple plan," Edrin corrected. "Simple and terrible are not the same thing."
Lyra leaned over the table, studying the largest mark again. "This breach… it's different."
Seris nodded. "It's stable."
Edrin blinked. "…That doesn't sound good."
"It means it's not closing on its own," Seris explained. "The others appear and disappear. This one remains."
Edrin slowly leaned back in his chair. "…So it's basically a permanent problem."
"Yes."
"I don't like permanent problems."
"Then we solve it," Ronan said.
Edrin pointed at him. "You say that like it's easy."
"I didn't say easy."
"Good. Because it definitely isn't."
Lyra straightened. "Where is it?"
Seris tapped the map.
"To the north," she said. "Beyond the outer ridges."
Edrin frowned. "That sounds far."
"It is."
"That sounds dangerous."
"It is."
"That sounds like a pattern."
Ronan laughed. "You're catching on."
Edrin sighed. "I don't want to catch on."
Seris rolled up the map slightly, her expression focused. "You won't be going alone."
Edrin blinked. "…I'm not?"
"You already have allies," she said, glancing briefly at Lyra and Ronan. "And you'll need more."
Edrin looked between them. "…More people like him?" he asked, pointing at Ronan.
"Hopefully better," Lyra replied.
"I'm right here," Ronan said.
"I'm aware."
Edrin raised a hand. "I would like fewer dangerous people, not more."
"That's not how this works," Seris said.
Edrin sighed. "That's never how this works."
He looked down at the map again.
At the large, dark mark.
At the place where everything seemed to be coming from.
"…And if we don't do this?" he asked quietly.
Seris didn't hesitate.
"They'll keep coming."
Edrin nodded slowly.
"…Stronger each time."
"Yes."
"And more focused on me."
"Yes."
Edrin exhaled.
"…Alright."
Ronan smirked. "That didn't take long."
"I didn't say I like it," Edrin replied. "I just don't see another option."
Lyra's gaze softened slightly. "That's enough."
Edrin glanced at her. "…That sounded like approval."
"It was."
"I'm getting a lot of those lately. I don't trust it."
Ronan laughed.
Seris stepped back from the table. "You'll need supplies, information, and rest."
Edrin perked up slightly. "Rest sounds good."
"You leave tomorrow," she added.
Edrin paused.
"…I take it back."
Ronan grinned. "No time to waste."
"There's never time to waste," Edrin muttered.
Lyra crossed her arms. "We prepare today."
Edrin nodded reluctantly. "…Alright."
He stood slowly, glancing once more at the map.
At the path ahead.
At the place they were heading.
"…This is a bad idea," he said.
"Yes," Lyra agreed.
"Definitely," Ronan added.
Seris simply watched him. "It's the only one."
Edrin sighed.
"…I really miss my old problems."
"You had worse ones," Ronan said.
"I had simpler ones."
Lyra turned toward the door. "Come on."
Edrin followed.
Of course he did.
Because at this point—
That was what he did.
Walk forward.
Complain.
Survive.
Repeat.
As they stepped back into the city, the noise and movement felt different now.
Less overwhelming.
More distant.
Edrin glanced at his hands.
Still steady.
Still his.
"…One step at a time," he muttered.
Ronan smirked. "Try not to trip."
"No promises."
But as they moved through the crowded streets—
Edrin didn't stumble.
Not once.