Ch 55: Parting Ways

The morning of their departure arrived with an overcast sky, the sun a muted glow behind thick gray clouds. Gron was already awake, its streets alive with movement—traders setting up their stalls, workers heading to the industrial districts, children running between alleyways with laughter that felt foreign to Kael after so many years in the Blanks. This city had become a temporary home, a resting point in a life of constant motion.

But today, that motion resumed.

Kael stood by the entrance of the industrial sector, leaning against a rusted street post. From here, he had a clear view of the mercenary convoy preparing for departure. The vehicles were a mix of reinforced transports and heavily modified off-roaders, bristling with makeshift armor and scavenged weaponry. They weren't the clean, polished forces of the Consortium, but they were experienced, hardened by the outer world.

And Mira was among them, moving between the vehicles with practiced ease, checking her gear and exchanging words with her new crew.

Kael exhaled through his nose. He wasn't sure how he felt about this.

He had expected her to stay, at least for a while longer. Gron wasn't perfect, but it was stable. It offered something close to peace—something they hadn't had since escaping the Blanks. But maybe that was the problem.

Mira thrived in chaos.

She turned suddenly, catching sight of him. For a second, her usual smirk faltered, replaced by something more difficult to read. Then she started toward him, her steps casual, like she wasn't about to leave for gods knew how long.

"Didn't think you'd actually wake up early enough to see me off," she teased, stopping a few feet away.

Kael huffed. "Figured you'd accuse me of being sentimental if I didn't."

"You are sentimental."

"Not as much as you."

She scoffed. "Right. Because I'm the one tinkering with tech for some underground cause instead of making real money."

Kael smirked but didn't argue. They both knew he was exactly where he wanted to be—just like she was.

Mira rolled her shoulders, glancing back at the convoy. "This isn't forever, y'know."

Kael nodded. "I know."

Silence hung between them, heavy with unspoken words. They had spent months surviving together, navigating impossible odds, watching each other's backs. And now, for the first time since meeting, they were stepping onto different paths.

"Gron's got everything you need," Mira said after a moment. "Resources, connections. You could do a lot here."

Kael glanced toward the industrial district, where he had spent the past few months working on salvaged technology, refining power sources, and—more recently—modifying things he probably shouldn't have been touching.

"I still have work to do," he admitted. "And this city has enough problems to keep me busy."

Mira grinned. "Figured as much."

A voice called her name from the convoy. The vehicles were nearly ready to depart.

She turned back to Kael, her expression shifting—less teasing, more serious. "Don't get yourself killed, alright?"

"I was about to say the same to you," Kael said. "But we both know you'd just ignore it."

"Damn right."

She reached out, clasping his shoulder in a firm, grounding gesture. He returned it, neither of them speaking.

Then she stepped back, her grip lingering for a half-second before she turned and walked toward the convoy.

Kael watched as she climbed into one of the transports, exchanging a few last words with her crew before slamming the door shut. The engines roared to life, filling the air with a deep, rumbling growl.

And then, with a lurch, the convoy started forward, kicking up a trail of dust as it disappeared beyond Gron's outer limits.

Kael stood there for a long moment, hands in his pockets, watching the dust settle.

Then, with a quiet exhale, he turned and walked back into the city.

His work wasn't finished yet.