'It 's melting. '

You look up. The sun is out for what feels like the first time in a decade. Granted, Solla has shown her face briefly every day, but during winter months her light is pale and of hardly any warmth.

For five days, you 've been marching towards the small town in East Novaryn Erwin told you about in your search for safe passage to Genesia City.

You look out to the horizon. It 's bright and promising. You 're clearly in Novaryn as the trees are no longer evergreen but instead, the forests are mostly made of oaks, birches and aspens.

The ground is still covered in snow, but less so than the prior weeks. Maybe it 's because you 're marching south or maybe the winter is slowly coming to a close. Regardless, you see some of the trees shyly bud new leaves.

'It is, ' you reply to Sasha. You 're a little taken aback. You slowly understand just how much time has passed. You 're reminded that time doesn 't wait for anyone.