Back inside Vulcan's Cave.
Evie closed the message box and turned all her notifications to silent mode. Her hands trembled slightly, but her eyes were calm. She had made up her mind. No more going back to Scar's guild. No more being treated like a disposable tool.
She would rather take her chances in the unknown than crawl back to those people and be their obedient dog again.
Evie released a long sigh. The weight on her chest lifted a little — and that tiny relief didn't go unnoticed.
Beside her, Ren chuckled softly. "So… you've made your decision?"
Evie didn't even try to hide it. She knew exactly what he was asking about. Her voice was flat and calm, but beneath it, her heart thumped with excitement. "Yeah. I've decided. I want to be like you. But to do that…" She looked down at her hands, clenching them into fists. "I need something that sets me apart from other Blue Mages."
Ren's lips curved into a faint smile. "Exactly. That's the right mindset."
