Carole's body still shimmered faintly, her outline flickering like a candle on its final breath.
She sat against the base of a tree, legs stretched out, the golden aura around her slowly fading.
June, Maria, Pierre, and Lei stood quietly nearby. No one spoke right away.
It wasn't a death.
But it felt like one.
Because even though Carole would live—she would wake up on Earth, safe and whole—this part of her journey was over.
She wouldn't return to Trion. Her vessel was spent. Her time here was done.
And still, her smile didn't falter.
"I'll see you all soon," she said, her voice soft but steady.
June crouched beside her and pulled her into a quick hug, holding her tightly for just a moment before standing again.
Maria looked away.
"We'll see you soon," she said. Her voice trembled slightly.
"Yeah," Lei added, forcing a smile. "Just a few hours away, right? When we log out."
