Mordred had isolated himself somewhat apart from the rest of the group, his hard face dimly lit by the pale light of mana orbs floating gently in the cave. He felt each beat of his heart like a painful reminder of the choices he was about to make. His thoughts, heavy and tortuous, were interrupted when he sensed a presence approaching.
He gently raised his head. Livia stood a few steps away, silent, almost hesitant.
- "May I?" she asked in a low voice, a slight shy smile on her lips.
He nodded gently, indicating for her to approach. She came to position herself near him, leaning slightly against the same cold stone column. For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. The silence was comfortable, familiar, but charged with an underlying tension.
It was Mordred who finally broke this calm, his voice deep, soft but tinged with painful determination.
- "I've made my decision, Livia. I can't wait any longer."
