*Kryzen*

I squeezed Briella’s hand reassuringly as the gates to Celestial Valley came into view. It was a bittersweet return for her, I was sure. She loved the valley. It was her home, and I was aware of the great responsibility she felt toward it. That obligation was the reason she wasn’t as excited as she normally would be upon returning.

She had been quiet for much of the journey back, barely speaking unless one of us spoke to her directly. While we were all lost ...