Edrin woke up with a very specific feeling.
Dread.
"…I don't want to go," he said, not opening his eyes.
"You're going," Lyra replied immediately.
Edrin groaned. "I thought saying it out loud might change something."
"It didn't."
"I figured."
He sat up slowly, rubbing his face. The room Seris had lent them was quiet, the early light barely slipping through the covered windows.
For a brief moment, everything felt still.
Safe.
Temporary.
Edrin looked around.
Lyra was already ready.
Of course she was.
Ronan was stretching like he had just woken up from the best sleep of his life.
Of course he had.
"…I don't like how prepared you both look," Edrin said.
"You'll get there," Ronan replied.
"I don't want to get there."
A knock came at the door.
Edrin froze.
"…That's him, isn't it?"
Lyra nodded.
"I knew it."
Ronan grinned. "Perfect timing."
Edrin sighed. "Of course it is."
Lyra opened the door.
Kael stood there.
Fully equipped.
Fully serious.
Fully ready to make Edrin's life more complicated.
"I assume you've decided," Kael said.
Lyra stepped aside. "We have."
Edrin raised a hand weakly. "…We're taking you."
Kael nodded once. "Good."
Edrin stared at him. "You didn't even hesitate."
"There's no reason to."
"I have several reasons."
Ronan chuckled. "You always do."
Kael stepped inside, his gaze briefly scanning the room before settling on Edrin.
"…You don't look ready," he said.
Edrin blinked. "That's because I'm not."
"That's going to be a problem."
"I'm aware."
Lyra stepped forward. "We leave now."
Edrin stood slowly. "…No breakfast?"
"We eat on the road," she said.
Edrin sighed. "Of course we do."
Within minutes, they were moving through the city again—this time with purpose.
Less wandering.
More direction.
Edrin noticed the difference immediately.
"…I liked it better when I didn't know where we were going," he said.
"That was worse," Ronan replied.
"It felt simpler."
Kael walked slightly ahead, his pace steady, his focus forward.
Edrin watched him carefully.
"…He walks like he's expecting something to attack at any moment," he whispered.
"He is," Lyra said.
Edrin nodded. "…I should probably start doing that."
"Yes."
"I don't want to."
"That doesn't matter."
Edrin sighed. "That sentence again."
They reached the gates quickly.
This time, the guards didn't stop them.
They simply watched.
Edrin noticed that too.
"…We're being watched," he said.
"We always are," Kael replied.
Edrin frowned. "I'm still getting used to that."
"Get used to it faster."
"I'm trying."
They stepped beyond the city walls.
Back onto the open road.
Back toward the unknown.
Edrin took a deep breath.
"…Last chance to turn back?" he asked.
"No," Lyra said.
"Figured."
Ronan grinned. "Too late now."
Kael didn't look back. "Stay focused."
Edrin adjusted his grip on his sword.
"…Alright."
One more companion.
One more problem.
One more step toward something much worse.
And yet—
He kept walking.
Not because he wasn't afraid.
But because stopping wasn't an option anymore.
As the city faded behind them, the road stretched north once again.
Long.
Uncertain.
Dangerous.
Edrin glanced at his feet.
"…Please don't trip now," he muttered.
He didn't.
Not even once.