"Their cultural isolation and mistrust of outsiders prevent such measures," Nexus explains. "They believe that revealing their location to the Merlans—or anyone else—would pose a greater threat than the Darkbound themselves."
Azure pauses mid-stride, exhaling deeply as the projection in his mind shifts. The faint glow of Sha'rel and Kyren comes into focus, their figures swimming gracefully through the dim underwater world. They're heading toward the outskirts of Sha'rel's village, their trails fading.
Kyren's face is lit with a smile—a rare and genuine one that seems to soften the hardened lines of his warrior's demeanor. Beside him, Sha'rel's own expression mirrors his. Their body language is light, unburdened, as if the moment they'd just shared had washed away years of tension.
Azure watches as Kyren slows his pace, turning to face Sha'rel. His smile fades into something more serious, though the warmth in his eyes remains.