Failed Search Operations

All this time, she kept believing that she was on a steady track of progress, and that no one out there might be able to surpass the strength and safety she was building, and yet, here she was - facing the bitter truth.

There's always someone out there better.

She turned her attention to Rune who had been too silent all this time, and it was only then did she notice that something wasn't right with him.

His entire body was tensed, and his fingers were witching at his sides while he stared right at the group.

"Rune?" She called him gently.

It seemed like her calling his name pulled him back to reality, and she caught the brief flicker of uncertainty in his expression before he masked it with his usual cool demeanor.

She studied him, trying to understand his weird reaction. No matter how much she thought about it, there was only one possibility...

"You know the."