Chapter 112

• Ethan lingered in his father's room, the steady rhythm of his father’s breathing filling the silence as he slept soundly. The worry from earlier still weighed heavily on his chest, but the peaceful sight of his father eased some of that tension. After a few moments, he decided it was time to leave, feeling the burden of leadership pressing upon him. Quietly, he slipped out of the room, careful not to disturb his father’s rest.
• As he traversed the familiar halls of their home, he pushed thoughts of impending danger to the back of his mind. The scent of aged wood and the faint aroma of lavender from the nearby garden enveloped him, stirring memories of happier days spent among family. But today was different. Today, he felt urgency coarse in his veins, a call to action that drew him away from nostalgia.
• Heading down the long hallway, he turned a corner and came to a stop. There, seated on the cool stone floor, was Elara. Her posture was serene. Her legs crossed, back straight, and her fingers splayed over her knees as if she were attempting to draw energy from the earth beneath her.