Chapter 40

• Gala continued honing his long-range shooting skills. He didn’t know why, but every time his eyes locked onto the target, he felt a sharp surge of adrenaline flooding through his body. He could anticipate the tilt of the target, measure his aim with uncanny precision—even sense how the wind might slightly alter the bullet’s trajectory. Dice had said wind influence was minimal, but Gala could still feel it.
• This was the second day of their journey on foot toward Northern Metro. The dense forest—clearly well-preserved by Southern Metro’s environmental guardians—had a certain calming beauty that made Gala feel oddly at home. At night, the sounds of forest creatures lulled him to sleep. Dice had brought along a complete set of camping equipment, even managing to cook with minimal tools. Gala was thoroughly impressed.
• The fish they caught fresh from the river, grilled and coated in a blend of spices Dice somehow whipped up tasted incredible. He felt absurdly lucky. If Dice was with him, hunger wasn’t something he’d ever have to worry about. Her glow—soft and amber—was like a living lantern that lit up the dark nights.