Trrrr!!
The path slowly closed before Aether and Xara, who stood there silently, watching the massive square block slowly descend back into the ground. It vanished beneath the earth as if it had never existed—no trace, no sign it was ever there.
Aether stared blankly at the spot, his eyes locked on the ground.
Xara noticed the conflicted look in his eyes, the way his jaw clenched subtly, and his brows twitched ever so slightly... But she didn't say a word.
She simply turned around, her long hair swaying softly behind her as she began to walk away without a sound.
Aether quietly followed, his footsteps aligning with hers. Neither of them exchanged a single word. The silence between them wasn't cold—it was thick with tension, with unspoken questions and lingering doubts.
And still... they walked. Slowly. Together.
Then, gently, Aether's hand moved. It reached out, unsure but yearning, and slipped into hers, intertwining their fingers with soft hesitation.
