The fire had died down hours ago.
No one had moved.
Lucius sat with his back against the stone wall. Eyes open. Watching the sky.
But not really.
Because what he was watching…
was inside him.
---
Claire stirred first.
She hadn't slept. Just stared at the same spot near the fire for hours.
She walked over, knelt beside him.
Said nothing.
Lucius didn't speak either.
But after a moment, he offered the only words he had.
"I didn't know you'd stay this long."
Claire looked up.
Tired. But not angry.
"I didn't either."
---
Zara passed behind them, stretching her arms like she hadn't almost died yesterday.
"Should've made a bet," she muttered. "I knew you'd survive."
Lucius gave her a glance.
"You almost sound disappointed."
Zara grinned.
"Wouldn't be fun if you died before we got to punch a god together."
---
Velda had been writing since dawn.
Runes glowing across her scroll, her lips moving as if reciting every choice made since Lucius first woke up.
When she finally looked up—
"The blade's evolving."
Lucius blinked. "You saw it?"
She nodded.
"The more you remember… the less the world agrees with your existence."
She paused.
"But the girls around you? They're starting to remember your life more than their own."
---
Lucius looked at her.
"Is that dangerous?"
Velda didn't answer.
But the silence said enough.
---
Lilith stood far away, near the edge of the cliff.
She hadn't spoken since Arielle vanished.
Lucius walked over slowly.
Stopped beside her.
She didn't look at him.
But she asked:
"Would you choose us again?"
Lucius blinked. "What?"
Lilith's voice cracked.
"If you could reset everything. Go back. Before Arielle. Before memory.
Would you still want to meet us?"
---
Lucius looked away.
And for once… he didn't answer.
Because the truth?
He didn't know.