Chapter 33: The Girl Who Admired Him

Back at their camp, Ithan couldn’t shake the sense of foreboding. The new enemy was unlike anything he had faced before, and though Lyra’s resolve remained unshaken, Ithan couldn’t help but feel a weight on his shoulders.

As he paced by the fire, the girl who had admired him for so long approached him. Her eyes were filled with warmth, yet there was a trace of sadness in her gaze.

"Ithan," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly, "You’ve changed... but I see now, the path you’re on is more dangerous than I imagined."

He turned to face her, the soft flicker of the fire illuminating her face. He hadn’t realized how much she cared, how deeply her feelings ran for him. And yet, despite the growing bond between them, his heart still beat for something else. For Lyra.

“I never wanted this, you know,” Ithan confessed, his voice tinged with regret. “To put anyone in danger. But I have to protect the world. I have to stop this new threat.”

The girl reached out, placing her hand gently on his arm. “Just promise me you’ll return. No matter what.”