Nameless exhaled, his tone firmer now, though a faint trace of regret lingered. "I can't go with you," he said at last, his voice clear yet heavy with meaning. "I'm going back to Bacain."
The words lingered in the air like a blade suspended mid-swing. Arnin's grip tightened on his cup as he turned his head away, his jaw clenched. For a moment, no one spoke.
Arnin clapped his hands together with an awkward smile, breaking the quiet around the pavilion. "I can't believe it's already night. Look at the sky," he said, his voice light but strained.
The others turned their gaze upwards, and indeed, the deep hues of night had settled across the heavens, stars faintly twinkling through the darkened expanse.
"I haven't had the chance to tour around Essed yet," Arnin continued, his tone becoming wistful. "I suppose I should take this night to walk around to make some memories." He sighed, glancing toward the far distance.
