It had been a journey.

Seraph and Liam had history before the Purpose began, but to Halo, they'd been strangers. Still, their shared journey had been unforgettable.

In mere months, they'd lived through experiences that took others years, creating memories more vivid than anything from their previous lives.

They said happiness in this world, even when achieved, could never match the innocence of their past lives. Perhaps that was true, but it was still worth pursuing.

Halo traveled with two shadows now: Tough and Light attached to him. Seraph had Sunday in her possession.

They exited the castle with caution, and the moment they stepped outside, Seraph stopped and gazed back at the structure.

"Someday, I want to see the two of you again. But this castle… I never want to be near it. It's cursed."

Liam smiled.

"This place was terrifying… but it brought the two of you into my life. I won't forget that. The good and the bad both made the journey worthwhile."

The moment he spoke, his eyes lit up, and he said:

"Maybe we can see each other from time to time… every couple of months. I don't want this friendship to slip away."

"Huh?"

"Yeah. After we get our new Purposes, we'll choose a place where we can always meet. Somewhere we can talk and look out for each other."

Halo stared at him expressionlessly. Good plan, but new Purposes were coming in a matter of days. He couldn't stick around that long.

"I've been mulling it over for weeks… and I finally have a plan."

Liam said with his lips stretching from ear to ear in a weird smile.

"After we get our next Purpose, meet me at Mill's shop in the Mirror Steppe so we can make this idea work."

"That doesn't sound bad at all, Liam."

Seraph said, joining the cheerfulness.

"Yeah, that'll be great."

Halo said.

Some memories would stay with him, Seraph's painting of their group, Liam's pocket watch gift, and the carvings he had made for each of them. The small promises they'd shared and their surprising weight. A farewell drink would've been fitting, but Halo had no time for proper goodbyes. Other matters called.

To their right lay Rascal Land, the frozen wasteland radiating such extreme cold that it seemed to crystallize the air itself. It was so bitter it felt capable of freezing their shadows where they stood.

As Liam and Seraph conversed while picking their way along the narrow path between Rascal Land and Inferno Moist, Halo's thoughts wandered to other concerns.

They'd agreed on Mill's place as a rendezvous for when their next Purposes came, but first they had to tell the old bastard. Halo intended to use the visit to provide Dark Saint with some clothes. She'd never consent to being clinging to him as a shadow. And Light needed a new boot to replace the one lost to frostbite.

The thought made him anxious about Dark Saint. She'd been trapped in the tree for months, fully conscious the entire time. What if she'd died of starvation? Or worse, what if someone had felled the tree and destroyed the whole arrangement?

Who was he kidding?

Actually, he was the vulnerable one. Dark Saint's notoriety alone would deter anyone from approaching Silent Hill. She'd manage. He just needed to arrange transportation from the Mirror Steppe quickly.

"Why are these lands called the triad lands anyway?"

Liam asked.

"I don't really know. With so many lands nearby, there must be a reason they were chosen."

Seraph added.

Halo snapped himself from his thoughts and turned in their direction.

"The three lands stand out because they are the largest. Rascal and Inferno Moist harbor the deadliest cycles, and Mirror Steppe dazzles with its beauty. No other land for miles around can compare."

He'd actually asked Fade for clarification, and the legend's explanation was much more detailed. The issue wasn't the lands themselves but their people. Anyone living in the Mirror Steppe lived under constant threat from the neighboring land, with the castle sitting ominously in the middle.

People emphasized the differences between the lands, making each seem distinct, but Halo chose a different approach to explaining it. Humans applied the same reasoning to it, after all.

"Don't you think it means something to the gods? I mean, they built such a prestigious castle here for a reason."

Liam asked.

Seraph turned to him with a confused look.

"There are tons of castles, some even fancier than the Galactic Castle. In the Ashen Ages, they say gods sometimes visited certain castles just to meet their legends. I don't think it has anything to do with where it's built."

Halo frowned.

Fade had told him about the Voiceless Region's true nature. As the starting point for all Awakened, it was the most crowded and full of the weak. The Ashen Ages, however, were for elites, survival there was an achievement. Given how the gods operated, naturally, they'd focus attention on their most promising followers.

"Don't lean too much into rumors, Seraph."

Liam turned to Halo.

"You learned that from Fade? I heard him say that a lot."

Halo shrugged his shoulders.

They arrived before the massive gate of Mirror Steppe in no time, with their boots already caught in ice. The moment they made their way through the barrier, Liam spoke:

"I will be staying here until I get my Purpose."

He turned to Halo.

"I believe you have to save someone, right?"

Halo nodded.

"I've got somewhere to be as well. Gotta grab a few supplies first."

They reluctantly made their way to Mill before parting ways in hopes of meeting a few days later to finally say their farewell.

The journey to Silent Hill was two days if the wagon wasn't attacked by Sinners, and considering it took him four days to receive his next Purpose after his first one, Halo didn't have much time to waste.

He hurriedly went to gather his gear while searching for an active wagon, one confident enough to roll in the night.

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