Shadows of Ascension

65. Departure

The aftermath of the battle hung heavy in the air, the silence between the hunters filled with the weight of what they had endured. Luca, still catching his breath, was the first to speak, his voice determined.

"Aiden," Luca began, his tone resolute, "we started this journey a long time ago, just the two of us. We've faced a lot together, and I think we need to keep going. We need to finish what we started."

Aiden nodded in agreement, his expression serious. “You’re right. We’ve come too far to stop now. The path ahead is going to be even more dangerous, but we can’t turn back.”

Riona stepped forward, her wounds still fresh but her resolve unwavering. “I’m coming with you. I joined you at the Well of Fate, and I’m not backing down now. We’re in this together.”

Luca looked at her, a hint of a smile crossing his face. “We’re glad to have you, Riona. We’ll need all the strength we can get.”

Erebus, standing beside his brothers Hrie and Oeifi, nodded solemnly. “As for us… we’ll be going our own way. We need to get stronger, to train and prepare for the day we can take revenge on Shadowbane. This isn’t over for us, either.”

Hrie and Oeifi, though still recovering from their battle, stood tall with determination in their eyes. “We’ll train hard, brother,” Hrie said. “We’ll be ready the next time we face him.”

“We will meet again,” Oeifi added, his voice firm. “And when we do, we’ll be stronger.”

The two groups exchanged a look of mutual respect, understanding that their paths, while diverging now, might cross again in the future.

“Goodbye for now,” Aiden said, extending his hand to Erebus. “We’ll see each other again.”

Erebus grasped his hand firmly. “Count on it.”

With that, the two teams parted ways, the brothers heading off to train, while Aiden, Luca, and Riona prepared to continue their journey.

As they walked, Aiden began to explain their plan to Riona. “Luca and I… we’re planning to cross the Lawless Area. It’s dangerous, filled with all sorts of threats, but on the other side lies what we’ve been searching for: the Celestial Blades.”

Riona raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “The Celestial Blades? I’ve heard of them. They’re legendary weapons, said to hold immense power.”

“Exactly,” Luca said, pulling out a worn map from his pack. He unfolded it, revealing a detailed path leading through treacherous terrain. “This is the map we’ve been following. It should lead us to where the Celestial Blades are hidden. It won’t be easy, but with the three of us, I think we can do it.”

Riona studied the map carefully, her eyes tracing the dangerous path. “I’m ready,” she said after a moment, her voice steady. “I’ve come this far, and I’m not about to back down now.”

Aiden smiled at her determination. “Then let’s move out. We’ve got a long journey ahead of us, and who knows what we’ll face next.”

With their resolve strengthened, the three companions set off, leaving behind the remnants of their recent battle. The road ahead was uncertain, but they knew they had each other—and that was enough. The hunt for the Celestial Blades had begun, and nothing would stand in their way.