The next morning was gray and cold. A heavy mist clung to the trees surrounding Ericson's Boarding School, muffling the distant groans of walkers that seemed to haunt the forest. The school was quiet, with most of the kids still asleep. Kratos, however, had been awake since the first glimmers of light had pierced the fog.

He stood at the edge of the compound, staring into the trees, the Leviathan Axe strapped across his back. His mind was focused, always prepared for an attack, even though he was used to much deadlier enemies than these slow-moving creatures. Mimir, as usual, hung from his belt, silent for once, seemingly lost in thought.

From behind, the sound of light footsteps approached. Kratos didn't need to turn to know who it was.

"You're up early," Clementine said, her voice soft but steady. She moved to stand beside him, her eyes scanning the treeline for any sign of danger. She held her machete loosely at her side, clearly at ease in Kratos' presence now.

Kratos gave a slight grunt in response, not taking his eyes off the horizon.

"You're not much for conversation, huh?" Clementine added with a small smirk.

Kratos remained silent for a moment longer before finally speaking. "I have no need for words when action will do."

Clementine nodded, her expression growing more serious. "I get that. Sometimes talking is just a waste of time."

They stood there in companionable silence for a few moments, both warriors in their own right, shaped by different worlds yet bound by the same harsh realities of survival.

Eventually, Clementine broke the silence. "You've seen a lot of battles, haven't you? More than I could even imagine."

Kratos glanced at her, his gaze hard. "You have seen your share as well. I can see it in your eyes."

Clementine chuckled bitterly. "Yeah, I guess you're right about that." She paused, her tone softening. "But there's more to it than just fighting, you know? I've lost people. People I cared about. And in this world, that's what breaks you more than any fight."

Kratos' jaw tightened at her words. Loss was something he knew all too well—his two wives, Lysandra and Faye, his daughter, Calliope, and his brother, Deimos. He had learned, painfully, that no amount of strength could protect those you loved from fate and his own mistakes.

"Loss," he rumbled, his voice low and gravelly, "is a burden we all carry. But it does not define us."

Clementine looked at him, surprised by the vulnerability in his words. She had seen him as an unstoppable force of nature, but in that moment, she realized he had his own scars—just like her.

Before either of them could say more, a voice called out from behind.

"Breakfast is ready!" It was Louis, leaning against the doorway of the school, his usual grin plastered across his face. "And by breakfast, I mean slightly burnt beans with a side of 'I did my best.'"

Clementine smiled faintly, shaking her head. "That's Louis for you. He tries, at least."

Kratos nodded curtly, following her as they headed back toward the main building.

Inside, the atmosphere was subdued but relatively calm. The children and teens that had survived together shared a bond forged by hardship, though some still cast uneasy glances at Kratos as he entered the room. Louis had already plopped himself down at the table, leaning forward in his chair, and Violet sat nearby, her sharp eyes watching everything. AJ sat beside her, poking at his food with his fork, his small brow furrowed in concentration.

Clementine took a seat, motioning for Kratos to join them. He hesitated for a moment, unused to this kind of communal gathering, but eventually sat down across from her. The table creaked under his weight, and Louis raised an eyebrow, clearly holding back a comment.

"So, Kratos," Louis began, breaking the silence. "Do gods eat regular food? Or do you just... I don't know, absorb the souls of your enemies or something?"

Violet shot him a look, but Kratos remained unfazed, his face an unreadable mask.

"I eat," he said simply.

Louis grinned, clearly enjoying the conversation. "Good to know. Maybe next time, you can cook, then. These beans could use some divine intervention."

Clementine rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help but smile at Louis' antics. Even in the darkest times, he had a way of lightening the mood. AJ, still eyeing Kratos cautiously, spoke up in his small, serious voice.

"How do you get that strong?"

Kratos turned his gaze to the boy, who looked back at him with wide, curious eyes. AJ wasn't asking out of fear—he was genuinely fascinated.

"Through battle," Kratos said after a long pause. "And pain."

AJ absorbed this, his expression thoughtful. Clementine watched the exchange, wondering if Kratos saw a bit of himself in AJ's determination.

The breakfast continued in relative silence after that, the occasional scrape of a fork on a plate or the distant groan of walkers the only sounds in the air. As they finished up, Clementine leaned back in her chair, looking across the table at Kratos.

"You said you're looking for answers," she began, her tone serious. "Do you have any idea where to start? How do you plan on getting back to your world?"

Kratos frowned. That was the question, wasn't it? He didn't have the answers. He and Mimir had been ripped from Midgard and thrust into this strange, decaying world without warning, and there had been no sign of the magic or gods responsible.

Mimir spoke up then, his voice cutting through the silence. "Aye, we've no real leads on how to return, but there's something... off about this realm. It's not just a natural catastrophe. I suspect there's a darker force at work here. We need more information."

Clementine's face hardened. "If that's true, then we're all in more danger than we thought."

Violet, who had been silent for most of the meal, spoke up. "There are other groups out there—people who are dangerous. They've taken people from us before. If there's a way out of this place, they'll want it, too."

Louis leaned forward, his tone more serious than usual. "Clem's right. This world? It's not just walkers you have to worry about. It's the people. They'll kill you just to take what little you have."

Kratos listened intently. He had seen firsthand what men were capable of when driven by desperation and fear. But he was not a man—they would find no easy target in him.

AJ looked up at Clementine, his small voice trembling slightly. "Are we gonna be okay?"

Clementine reached out, squeezing AJ's hand reassuringly. "We're gonna be fine, AJ. We've made it this far. We'll figure it out."

Kratos stood up, his massive form casting a shadow over the table. "I will help you, for now. But my goal remains to leave this place. Whatever danger lies ahead, I will face it."

Violet nodded, though she still seemed cautious. "If you're going to stick around, we're going to need all the help we can get. The world's getting worse out there, and it feels like something big is coming."

Louis, trying to lighten the mood, chimed in. "Well, if a god is on our side, I'd say we've got pretty good odds, right?"

Kratos gave him a flat look, and Louis held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I'll tone it down."

Clementine stood up, signaling the end of the meal. "Let's go outside and get a better look at the surrounding area. We've got to make sure the walkers aren't building up around the gate."

The group filed outside, falling into a routine they had perfected over the months. Kratos followed, his senses sharp. This world, though bleak and broken, had its own dangers. And if what Mimir suspected was true—if there were forces beyond the walkers that threatened them all—then Kratos would face them.

For now, he would stand with Clementine and her group. But deep down, he knew that his path would eventually lead him away from these survivors. His destiny had always been forged in isolation, in battles fought alone.

But until that time came, Kratos would fight for them, for this brief alliance forged in a world that refused to die.