A Choice

Arran looked at Negin as she lay on the ground. With her body covered in burns and blisters, it was a small miracle that she'd lasted as long as she had. Her strength had long failed her, and the last hours, she had persisted on nothing but sheer willpower.

But there was only so much willpower could do.

The moment she'd laid eyes on the starmetal weapon, her body had finally given out, and she'd collapsed into unconsciousness. She was long past her limit, and against the merciless assault of unbound Essence, no amount of determination could last.

As Arran looked at her, he knew that leaving her behind was the sensible thing to do.

In her current pitiful state, she wouldn't last much longer. Another hour or two, at most. And once she died, what little she'd learned about Arran would be forgotten.