The walk back to the castle felt shorter than the trip down. Maybe it was the weight of the Sentinel’s Crescent against my skin, or maybe it was the lingering warmth of Demetrius’s voice in my head, but the steep climb didn't leave me winded like I thought it would.
Athena was still buzzing, occasionally swinging her bags and humming a tune I didn't recognize. As we crossed the drawbridge and entered the courtyard, the evening air had turned crisp, carrying the scent of pine and the distant, damp promise of the lowlands.
"Dinner first, then final checks," Athena said, her tone shifting slightly toward her commander persona. "Demetrius will likely be in the strategy room finishing up with the elders. We should eat while we can; tomorrow’s journey won't exactly be a culinary tour."
I nodd
