Chapter 57: The Weight of Choices

Conor woke early, the darkness of the early morning still lingering as he stared at the ceiling of his hotel room. Sleep had been elusive, his mind filled with thoughts of the previous night's dinner with the interns and the growing distance between him and Kerrigan.

The decision weighed heavily on him, and he knew he couldn't delay it any longer. He needed clarity, and that meant making a difficult choice.

He quietly dressed in his running gear and left the room, missing that familiar companionship of Faolan trotting at his side.

The cold mountain air of Velyki even in summer hit him as soon as he stepped outside, the bite of the wind coming off the high peaks a sharp reminder of the reality he was facing.

He set off at a brisk pace, the rhythmic pounding of his feet on the pavement providing a small measure of comfort. Faolan kept pace with him, her breath visible in the frosty air, as they wound through the city streets.

Conor pushed himself harder than usual, trying to outrun the