Chapter 32: Return to the City

The air outside the Trial's gate felt different-heavier, filled with an eerie calmness that matched the stillness inside Elias' chest. After the fierce battles, the exhausting trials, and the sense of isolation, the city loomed ahead like a distant memory come to life.

Elias stepped through the gate, feeling the soft shift beneath his feet, the transition from the Trial's dark depths to the bustling streets of the city. The towering structures, the bustling crowds, the chatter of traders-it all seemed so... normal. Too normal. It was as if the chaos of the Trial hadn't touched this place at all.

But Elias could feel the weight of his journey, the toll it had taken on him. The power he had gained, the souls he had consumed, the strength of his resolve-they all felt so distant now, as if the city, with its sights and sounds, was trying to pull him back into a world of normalcy..

He couldn't let that happen. He couldn't forget what he had lost. He couldn't forget why he was doing this.

But something within him began to shift. The further he moved through the city, the more the memory of his family and the pain of his vengeance crept up on him. He remembered the night they were taken from him-the darkness, the fire, the deafening silence that followed.

He wanted to forget. He wanted to leave it behind.

But that wasn't the way forward.

Elias had come to realize something. He had to keep moving, keep fighting, or he'd risk losing everything he'd gained in the Trial. But there was no denying the toll it had taken. The weight of his grief. The burden of the souls he had absorbed.

His steps slowed as he made his way toward the familiar streets. He found himself on the path to the inn he had stayed in earlier, his mind wandering. Despite everything, the city felt like a reprieve. A break from the relentless pressure of the Trial. A chance to breathe.

But was it really a break? Or was it just another distraction?

When he entered the inn, he was greeted by the same faces as before, the same low murmur of conversations. But it felt different now. Everything felt different. He no longer fit in this world. Not after what he had been through.

After all, what was there left for him here? The city had never been his home. It was just a stop on the way to something greater.

Elias found a seat at a corner table and ordered a simple meal. He barely touched it, his mind racing with thoughts of the next floor, the next boss. His body needed rest, but his mind was too restless to stay still. He was a warrior now, a force to be reckoned with. But the constant questions swirled around him-was he becoming what he hated? Would he lose himself to the Trial's darkness?

Before he could dig deeper into his thoughts, a figure caught his attention. A flash of familiar blue hair. Elias looked up, his heart skipping a beat.

It was her. The girl who had helped him.

Her presence had been a fleeting memory, but now she was here, standing in the doorway, her gaze scanning the room as if searching for someone. When their eyes met, she gave him a brief, respectful nod, her posture stiff but her eyes soft.

Elias stood up and walked over. His heart was still heavy, but something about seeing her-someone who had helped him without asking for anything in return-made him feel like maybe there was still something to fight for.

"I didn't expect to see you again," Elias said, his voice low but sincere.

Althea's lips curled into a small smile, though it. was hard to read her expression. "I had a feeling our paths would cross again."

"Are you... are you still on your mission?" Elias asked, his mind still cloudy from the journey and his own inner struggles.

Althea's eyes flickered briefly to the door, as if contemplating something, before she spoke again. "My mission is my duty. But I also keep my promises."

Elias could feel the weight of her words. There was a quiet pride in her stance, something unspoken but clear. She had her reasons for being here. And while they were worlds apart in their missions, there was a bond between them -an understanding.

"I could use a bit of guidance," Elias admitted, his voice betraying the uncertainty he'd been trying to hide. "I've come so far, but it feels like I'm still... lost."

Althea nodded slowly, the corners of her mouth tightening as if trying to suppress a deeper. emotion. "The path ahead is full of challenges. You know that better than anyone. But if you lose your way... don't forget why you started. The Trial will test you, but don't let it take everything."

Elias felt a strange comfort in her words. A reminder that even in the midst of everything, there were still people who understood the

weight of what he carried.

"Thanks," he said quietly.

She gave him a final nod. "Rest. You'll need it. The journey ahead will be even more dangerous."

With that, Althea turned and left the inn, disappearing back into the crowd of the city.

Elias sat back down, staring at the table. For the first time in a long while, he wasn't sure what to do next. But one thing was clear-he had to face the next challenge, the next floor, with everything he had. No more distractions.