Lucien trudged across the ashen plains, his expression hollow. Each step felt increasingly heavy—and it wasn't just the treacherous rocks beneath his feet.
Watching the young elf skip ahead, humming a sweet melody while smiling, crushed him with unbearable weight.
She stopped and turned back, tilting her head with a radiant smile.
"Hurry up, great one. We don't want to be caught now."
Lucien glared at her back. Now would be the perfect time to unleash a curse, but he swallowed it and exhaled, quickening his pace.
"So, Great one. Where are we headed?"
Lucien remained silent for a while, staring straight ahead. Then he spoke after a brief pause.
"I'm going to the Hall of Columns first. I have business there, then I'll head to a city. Which city? Any city."
Gayanna nodded.
"Hmm, that sounds good. Why the Hall of Columns though? Isn't that place inhabited by the Tribe of Steel?"
Lucien glanced at her, his face void of emotion.
