When Rose woke up the next morning, Rune informed her that he was ready to open the gateway.
That was the only statement shared between them.
She went on to have a quick bath.
After that, she joined Rune, who was facing the forest with a greenish stone in his palms.
“Are you sure you’re better now?” she eventually asked when the silence between them made her stomach knot. “We can stay back till you feel-”
“No. I’m okay.” He grunted to prove his point, then returned to focusing on the stone. Moments later, he tsked and murmured, “Why is it not working?”
“Is something wrong?”
“The gate should be open by now. I am putting all my focus on it.”
“It will never work,” responded the voice of Rune’s mother.
Quietly, like a vampire on a hunt, the woman stepped into the sunlight, the r
