The mist outside the Citadel was different—thinner, less oppressive, but no less mysterious. Lira had never ventured beyond the walls before, and the unfamiliar landscape filled her with a mix of excitement and trepidation. The forest stretched out before them, dense and shadowed, the trees towering like silent sentinels. Somewhere beyond lay the path Kael had seen in the vision, the key to saving his people.

Kael walked beside her, his steps steady now, though his expression was still distant. The memory of his sister was gone, taken by the dead, but the determination in his eyes burned brighter than ever.

"How far do we need to go?" Lira asked, her voice low.

Kael glanced at her, then at the forest ahead. "The vision showed a path through the woods, leading to a clearing. There was a light there—a gateway, maybe. That's where we'll find the answer."

Lira nodded, though her unease grew with every step. The forest felt alive, the trees whispering secrets she couldn't understand. She had spent her life within the Citadel's walls, surrounded by the dead and their echoes. This world—the world of the living—was foreign to her, and she wasn't sure she belonged here.

As they walked, the silence between them grew heavier. Finally, Kael broke it. "Why did you help me?" he asked, his voice quiet but curious.

Lira hesitated, her gaze fixed on the path ahead. "I don't know," she admitted. "Maybe because you reminded me that there's more to life than duty. Or maybe because I wanted to see what lies beyond the Citadel."

Kael studied her for a moment, then nodded. "For what it's worth, I think you made the right choice."

Lira glanced at him, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "We'll see."