[Village of Sah'Rumeh — After Dawn]
The night had grown colder; even Vaelthor's moon slowly began fading behind dark clouds drifting above the wolf lands and sunrays.
Levin still stood beneath the watchtower long after Kael disappeared into the darkness, frozen and breathing unevenly. Hands trembling faintly beneath the heavy fur cloak.
Because now hope had returned, and somehow it terrified him more than grief. Beside him, Iru remained silent because even he did not know what to say anymore.
What if the silver-haired stranger truly were the Malik? What if he survived? And worst of all, what if it was not him at all?
The thought alone felt unbearable, and then quietly, almost like someone speaking to himself, Levin whispered, his fingers slowly tightening over his stomach.
"…if it truly is him…then why has he not come for us?"
Silence answered him instead. Only the cold desert winds were moving softly through the village.
"Let's get inside Malika..." Iru said.
