As Blanc managed to find a thread to hold onto for a little longer, one that gave him the determination and courage to at least go and get ready, he left the bath and headed to his room.
There awaited Celine, who was watching the cave walls while rubbing her belly.
"My love," said Blanc, drawing her attention.
"Are you going, then?" she asked, sitting up on the bed, "Isn't there something that could change your mind?"
"I'm sorry, but there isn't. I wish it would. I would gladly turn a blind eye to everything and pretend all is well, but I am afraid there isn't such a thing."
"Isn't this reason enough to wait a while longer?" asked Celine, while placing both hands on her belly.
"My dear," began Blanc, putting his head in her lap, watching her with a hand on her stomach, "That is a reason why I am going. This child, your health, Kael, and Lune, are my worries. These are reasons enough to go. Even if I give my life for it."
"But what if I do not want you to give your life for it, or leave? Can't we think again about how to do this? Aren't there other options?" Celine pleaded as she played with his hair.
"I will not throw my life in vain, but I will not stay still with my eyes closed, while everything else may be crumbling down around us," explained Blanc.
"Just wait, please. Give me another day or two to figure things out. How can I convince you?" said Celine.
"My love, I-" said Blanc, but Celine spoke again the next moment.
"We can even do it with Miyanna. Right now or in the future. Whenever you want to. Just please, do not leave tonight," muttered Celine.
"Huh?" asked Blanc, his eyes wide, "how dare you think so low of me, Celine?"
"Wait, I didn't-"
"For all your brain, my love, you confuse my lust for you, for lust for others. Miyanna is a beautiful woman, but do you think I have the time or interest to care about that? What actually gave you the idea that I want such a thing? And in such a moment, nonetheless? When you know how important it is to do this. To find out something at least," Blanc replied, getting to his feet and picking up darker clothes he thought of using, "No… You are mistaken. No amount of lust I feel or women at my feet will change that. Is it really such a bad thing to care?"
"My love, I-" stuttered Celine.
"Keep your words and invitations, my love. See you in the morning. Sleep well," said Blanc as he left the room, dressed in darker clothes and weapons at the ready.
The night was cold and silent as he left the cave without being noticed by those who remained.
There was a breeze that moved the golden leaves on the trees slowly, as in a dance that welcomed him.
He accepted that dance with all his being as he began running along the mountainside, halfway around the mountain, towards the direction they took to get here. Towards home.
With no time to waste, he began running, his thoughts trying to reason and ruin him at the same time. Yet he kept running.
Each step in front of the other.
He had no time to focus on all the sounds that were around him as he was moving fast. So, besides real dangers, he ignored all sounds.
In less than twenty minutes, he had already passed the place where they had fought against the wolves when they were searching for the cave. He did not stop.
Nor did he stop at the place where he fought the lynx on that day he first met Celine. He did not stop there either.
Barely an hour and a half later, after running constantly, when he got near the lake, Lune fell in years ago, and where they had rested the first night in the woods was the first place he stopped to rest for a few minutes.
He was getting closer.
Halfway there.
As he stood in the dark, watching the waves move around the lake's surface, he saw the three shining beasts that they had seen in the past.
They were all drinking water on the other side of the lake, and away from him.
Good.
"Are you alone this time, child of man?" asked the female voice as the deer raised her head, watching him.
The voice resounded in his head, the distance between them and him, at least a mile across the lake. Yet he saw them clearly, and unfortunately, it appeared that so did they.
"Yes, I am. I apologize if I inconvenience you. I will be leaving soon." Blanc replied in a normal way, knowing that even with that distance between them, they would hear him.
"Yes, you are, leave!" said the female voice as the eagle began soaring in the sky, above where they stood.
"Do not listen to him, child of man, rest. You have been running for a while, after all," said that same female voice, as the deer moved.
"How do you know that?" Blanc asked.
"It does not take a God to be able to figure that out from your breathing and the chaos in you," the female voice replied.
"What are you, really? I know you are a creature of True Vita, but what exactly are you?" Blanc asked.
"Go ahead, ask the wind, child, what it is. Ask the lake what it is and why it is here. When these two give you an answer, then we will do the same," said the voice, as the fox began walking along the shore.
"I'm sorry, I was just curious," bowed Blanc slightly, as he stood down.
The voice giggled, "Words are yet to cut deeper than swords do. Until then, you can ask. But we can not answer."
"Thank you for your words. I will be off now," said Blanc, getting to his feet, not wanting to overstay his welcome.
"Child of man, wait," said the female voice, "Darkness comes over these woods. Make sure that when the darkness finds you, you do not forget what remains."
"What do you mean?" Blanc asked, confused by what the mystifying words meant.