The path ahead did not feel like anything they had walked through before. It was not a proper corridor, and it was not an open space either. It felt like something in between, like a place meant to lead somewhere important. With each step, there was a quiet sense that they were getting closer to something final, even if nothing around them changed in an obvious way.
Aurelion walked at the front, steady as always, but more aware than before. The connection he had gained earlier had not faded. It felt settled now, like it belonged to him instead of something he had to reach for. He did not need to think about it. It was simply there, guiding how he understood the space around him.
Sally walked beside him, her face calm but her eyes focused. She had handled everything so far without hesitation, but this felt different. It was not just another step or another fight. There was a weight to it, something that made her more careful than before.
