The wind carried Vaelora's words into silence. For a moment, Noel said nothing. Marcus first. Sylvette second. His sister climbing higher than him.
Selene's eyes lingered on him, her expression calm but questioning. She could read the shift in his posture, the storm he refused to show.
Finally, Noel broke the quiet. "We continue." His tone was flat, unyielding.
Vaelora gave a curt nod, while Albrecht only folded his arms, unimpressed. Their presence loomed a moment longer before they turned away, leaving the ridge behind.
Once they were gone, Selene spoke softly, almost testing. "You don't have to prove anything. We survived. That's already more than enough."
Noel shook his head, his jaw tight. "No. I'm not just here to survive. I want to win this." His grip on Revenant Fang tightened until his knuckles whitened. "If everyone's watching, then I'll make sure they don't look down on me—or on us."
