The fortress gates came into view as the sun began to disappear behind the distant mountains.
Nobody spoke for a while. The journey back had been quieter than the journey there.
Perhaps because everyone was thinking about the same things.
The key or about the choice.
The person who had walked away. The broken clock and Aiden's strange recognition of a moment he couldn't remember.
Rin walked beside Kaelith, their hands still loosely connected. Neither of them had mentioned the System's suggestion again.
Mostly because Rin knew exactly what would happen if he did. The System would become unbearable and Rin valued his remaining sanity.
A few steps ahead, Sol was checking the detector. Noctis glanced at him.
"Still nothing?"
Sol shook his head.
"Nothing unusual since we left the forest."
"Good."
Ji-ho sighed dramatically.
"Can we agree that 'nothing unusual' is the best result?"
Noctis looked at him.
"Probably."
"Excellent."
Ji-ho nodded.
