They trudged across the grey, lifeless expanse, the Wasteland’s hold finally beginning to weaken. The ground beneath them grew softer, patches of green moss and hardy shrubs appearing where there had been nothing but rock. It was clear they had reached the edge of the dead lands.

Adam’s steps slowed. A faint, weary smile crossed his face as he took in the sight.

"Finally. We’re out of that place."

Ignis let out a loud, exaggerated sigh of relief, stretching her arms above her head and cracking her neck with a satisfied pop.

"Ugh... I never want to see another grey rock again. If I never step foot in the Wasteland again, it’ll be too soon."

Lilith’s voice drifted from behind her, smooth and thoughtful, her crimson eyes fixed on the shifting horizon.

"Don’t celebrate too quickly. We’ve left one danger behind, but there will be many more ahead."

Alice, walking beside Adam, glanced at the Compass of Desire in his hand. The needle, once steady, was beginning to flicker, its glow dimming. Her dark violet eyes narrowed, and she nodded toward it.

"Adam. The compass is losing its charge."

Adam looked down at the artifact, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. "I know."

They walked in silence for a while, the crunch of their boots on the gravel the only sound. Then Alice’s voice broke the quiet, sharp and purposeful.

"So our next goal is finding who ordered the massacre of Isolde’s village... and then heading to the World Tree, right?"

Adam glanced at her, nodding slowly. "That’s the plan."

Alice’s ear twitched, her tail swaying behind her with feline focus. "Do you already know who’s responsible? Or are we walking into this blind?"

Isolde spoke up from behind, her voice carrying the weight of cold purpose. "I don’t know for certain yet. But I have a lead." Her pale eyes fixed on the horizon, unblinking. "We’re going to find the First Prince of Solaria and make him talk. He knows who ordered it—it was likely one of his subordinates. And I’ll make sure he tells me everything."

Adam’s lips curved into a faint, easy smile. "So we’re heading straight into demon territory. Good. I need to deliver Orion’s letter anyway."

Lilith let out a soft, amused hum. "How efficient. I do love a plan that saves time."

Azrynn’s yellow eyes swept the horizon, her voice carrying a note of genuine curiosity as the landscape shifted around them.

"I’ve never been to demon territory before. What’s it like there?"

Lilith’s lips curved into a thinsmile, her crimson eyes glinting with something between amusement and caution.

"We probably won’t be able to enjoy demon territory comfortably because there’s still an ongoing war between demons and humans."

Azrynn’s brow furrowed, her voice carrying a note of concern. "War? They’re still fighting?"

Isolde’s voice came from behind, calm and flat, as if stating an obvious fact.

"Don’t be surprised. That’s the nature of sentient beings. As long as ambition exists, there will always be conflict. Time doesn’t erase that."

Ignis huffed, flames flickering with irritation. "Humans and demons are so stupid. Fighting forever just wastes energy. Why can’t they just... not?"

Lilith let out a soft, amused hum. "A noble sentiment, Ignis. But the world doesn’t work that way."

Adam shrugged, his gaze fixed ahead. "Let them do what they want. As long as they don’t get in our way, it’s not our problem."

The terrain slowly shifted beneath their feet as they walked. The dead, grey earth of the Wasteland gave way to sparse, hardy grass, then to patches of moss and small, twisted shrubs. The air grew warmer, carrying the scent of distant rain.

Adam looked down at the Compass of Desire in his hand. The needle, once steady, was beginning to flicker, its glow dimming. Then, without warning, a thin crack spread across its surface. The compass crumbled in his palm, turning to fine grey dust that scattered on the wind.

Adam watched the dust drift away, his expression calm. "Thank you for guiding us," he said quietly.

Ignis’s flames flickered, her golden eyes scanning the horizon. "So... we rest here first? Before we head to demon territory?"

Adam nodded, his gaze sweeping the landscape. "Yeah. We need water, and we need rest. We can’t walk into demon territory exhausted."

Alice’s ears twitched, her tail swaying as she sniffed the air. "I can smell water. That direction."

They followed her lead, their footsteps crunching against the hardening earth as they made their way toward the source of the scent. The trees grew thicker, their branches twisting overhead, and the ground beneath them softened with the first traces of moisture.

Soon, the sound of running water reached their ears—faint at first, then growing clearer. A stream, narrow but clear, cut through the landscape, its surface glinting in the pale light.

Ignis let out a cry of delight and sprinted forward, dropping to her knees at the water’s edge and cupping her hands to drink.

"Ahh! So fresh!"

Adam’s lips curved into a faint, weary smile as he knelt beside her, splashing cool water on his face. His voice carried a note of quiet satisfaction.

"This is good. We’ll rest here for a few hours."

Lilith settled onto a flat rock near the water’s edge, her silver-white hair catching the faint light as she crossed her legs and closed her eyes, letting the cool breeze wash over her. She let out a soft, contented sigh, her usual sharpness softened by the peace of the moment.

Isolde lowered herself onto the grass, letting out a long, slow breath. She didn’t lie down, but her shoulders eased, the tension draining from her frame.

Alice stretched her arms above her head, her tail swaying lazily as she surveyed their surroundings. Her voice carried a note of quiet contentment.

"Hnn~ Somewhere that doesn’t feel like a tomb."

Azrynn sat cross-legged on the grass, her bow resting across her lap, her yellow eyes fixed on the stream’s gentle flow. Her voice was soft, thoughtful.

"It’s beautiful here. I could almost forget what we left behind."