The tension gradually eased as Natasha and Ice watched Jilius' body complete its transformation. All that remained were his torn clothes and his sword, the same sword he had clutched until the very end.
"She's really strange."
Despite everything, Natasha's face was blank, almost indifferent. Oddly enough, Ice seemed more affected by the loss, surprising, considering the two had spent at least the past ten years fighting side by side.
Even more curious was the fact that Jilius had entrusted her with the ring, something that clearly held deep meaning for him, while she was present. There had to be more to the story, details she still didn't understand.
"Brother!"
Hestia's cry broke the silence, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She ran to him and threw herself into his arms.
He held her for a few seconds before she slowly calmed, pulling away and wiping her face.
"You really are an idiot."
Ice gave a faint, amused smile.
"Maybe you have to be an idiot to make the right decisions."
Celestia didn't respond. Her gaze had already drifted to the enormous, radiant tree standing silently near Jilius' clothes.
"Is that him?" she asked quietly, her voice hollow.
Ice nodded.
She stared for a moment, unreadable, then bowed deeply.
"Thank you for everything you've done for us."
Ice watched as she paid her respects. A hand touched his shoulder.
"You might be immortal. Who knows?"
Ray's voice carried a teasing edge, but his expression didn't match. His head was slightly bowed, his eyes uncertain.
"I'm sure my skin's thick, but let's not go that far," Ice replied with a dry chuckle.
Ray turned his eyes toward the tree, emotions flickering across his face. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, uncertain.
"I'm really so..."
"Forget it. It wouldn't have changed anything," Ice said, brushing it off with a wave. "Besides, we've got more important things to worry about."
Without another word, he strode toward Natasha, who still stared at the tree, at Jilius, with the same vacant expression.
"Do you know where this place is? The one Jilius mentioned?"
She glanced briefly at the ring on his finger, then nodded.
"Then let's go. I don't know which one of you that beast was tied to, but the Beast of Light will come back stronger. And when it does, it'll all be over."
Ice's voice was low and firm.
The others quickly gathered themselves and followed Natasha without hesitation.
Ice lingered a few seconds longer. He stepped up to Jilius' sword, picked it up, and planted it firmly in the ground beside the base of the tree.
Then he turned away.
After a few paces, he whispered,
"I won't forget."
They resumed their journey toward freedom. For several minutes, they walked in unbroken silence. No one mentioned Jilius's death during the trek. No one wanted to.
Anxious expressions marked every face, torn between the fear of monsters that could catch up at any moment and the uncertainty of a destination that grew more obscure with every step. The future had never felt so uncertain.
"You really can't handle the heat, can you?" said Natasha, her expression as neutral as ever.
Ice's eyes widened. He was almost tempted to look around to make sure she was actually talking to him. That was the last kind of comment he'd expected from her. In fact, he hadn't thought she'd speak at all unless absolutely necessary.
Is she trying to lighten the mood?
"Yes, I guess I'm too cold," Ice joked dryly.
"What, are you sick?" she asked, her tone holding something dangerously close to concern.
Ice's eyes widened even more.
Who is this woman?
The others stared as well, equally stunned. Their icy beauty, so aloof until now, had suddenly gone off script without warning.
"Are you okay, ma'am?" Celestia giggled nervously.
No one answered.
In fact, Ice had frozen in place, mouth slightly open, eyes lifted toward the sky.
Celestia followed his gaze and her expression shifted in an instant.
A wall, vast and towering, had appeared in front of them, only a few minutes' walk away. A wall that, until now, had been completely invisible.
Nothing makes sense here, Ice thought.
Given its colossal size, that wall should have been visible from anywhere in the forest. In fact, it should have dominated the landscape. Yet it only revealed itself when they were nearly upon it.
"That's our destination," Ray said, pointing.
"Yes, we'll take those stairs," Natasha added. "We have to hurry. It's getting closer."
Their expressions darkened as they quickened their pace, Natasha matching their speed. She had just casually dropped a bombshell. Not only had she confirmed that the remaining beast was her mirror, but it was also close, close enough for her to sense it.
As they approached the wall, it appeared even more imposing. It couldn't have been more than a hundred meters high, but it stretched endlessly across the horizon, a boundary without end. From where Ice stood, there was no visible edge in sight.
Wasting no time, they rushed toward the staircase in a controlled panic. Aside from Natasha, they were all winded, but no one stopped pushing forward.
"One last effort!" Natasha shouted.
They no longer had the strength to be surprised by her. After a few more steps, they reached the top.
Waiting for them were two figures.
One of them, a man with a friendly smile, stepped forward.
"Pleased to meet you," he said. "I'm Elpis."