Helena, who had run away, unable to face the unbearable truth, now sat motionless on a lonely rock as she blankly stared at the cascading falls ahead of her.
She was far—so far—from Aether and anyone else… completely alone.
Whenever she felt lonely… or hollow thinking about her lost mother… or whenever the Archpriestess scolded her… this was the place she would always escape to.
A quiet sanctuary.
Though this place wasn't magical or laced with spells of comfort… the steady sound of the water crashing down, the glimmer of pure, transparent streams, and the gentle mist that touched her skin… it all somehow helped her breathe, helped her slow down.
It made her feel calm… relaxed… sleepy… like she could drift away and let go of all the pain, even if just for a while.
But now...
Now, even that comfort was gone.
All she could hear was… Aether's voice.
