The dawn broke with a muted light, barely cutting through the gray sky, casting a dull glow over the weathered walls of Ericson's Boarding School. The survivors of the camp stirred early, their movements quiet, heavy with the knowledge of what the day would bring. It wasn't just another morning. It was the morning where everything was about to change.

Inside the main hall, Clementine stood with Kratos, Freya, and the others—AJ by her side, as always. The room was filled with an unusual silence, even with the bustle of preparation. A few supply bags were in the corner, weapons leaned against the wall, and even bedrolls were being packed tightly for the long journey ahead.

Louis fiddled with his bow, tension clear in his normally relaxed demeanor. Violet sharpened her knife in the corner, her expression focused, but her occasional glances toward Clementine and Kratos betrayed her unease. Freya, standing near the door, quietly observed everyone, her mind clearly on the impending journey, while Kratos, as always, was a silent pillar of strength beside her.

It wasn't long before the rest of the camp gathered in the hall. Omar, Ruby, Aasim, and Willy entered the room, their faces grim. Word had already spread about the group's decision to leave, and none of them liked it.

Ruby crossed her arms as she looked at Clementine. "So it's true then. Y'all are leaving us."

Clementine nodded, her voice steady but filled with a quiet sadness. "Yeah, Ruby. We have to. There's something out there—something worse than the walkers. If we don't stop it, we're all in danger."

Aasim frowned. "And you think you're going to find it? That you can stop it? How do you even know where to start?"

Freya stepped forward, her presence commanding the room. "We can sense the magic, the darkness. It's not something you can see or touch, but it's there. Kratos and I know how to follow its traces. We will find the source, and we will stop it."

Willy, the youngest of the group, looked up at them with wide eyes. "But… what about us? What if those bad guys or the magic walkers come back? Who's gonna protect us?"

Kratos, standing near the doorway with his arms crossed, finally spoke, his deep voice resonating through the hall. "You will protect yourselves."

Willy blinked in surprise, but Kratos' words, though harsh, carried weight. Clementine understood what Kratos was trying to say—he had seen countless survivors in his lifetime, people who had been forged by fire and battle. These children had already survived unimaginable horrors. They had the strength within them, even if they didn't realize it yet.

Ruby sighed, stepping forward to place a hand on Willy's shoulder. "We've got each other. We've made it this far, haven't we?"

Omar, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. "But what if you don't come back?" His voice was soft but filled with concern. "What if something happens out there?"

Clementine exchanged a glance with Freya and Kratos before stepping forward. "We're coming back," she said firmly. "But this is something we have to do. If we don't stop this now, none of us will be safe. It's bigger than just Ericson's."

Louis, sensing the tension rising, chimed in with his usual attempt at humor, though his voice was strained. "Hey, come on. We've fought off walkers, raiders, and magic sorceresses. What's a little dark magic, right?"

Violet shot him a look, but her lips quirked in a brief, dry smile. "We'll be fine. We always are."

But Aasim wasn't so easily convinced. "Fine isn't enough, Clementine. You're taking our best fighters. What if something happens to you out there? What if… what if you don't come back?"

Clementine paused, the weight of Aasim's words settling over her. She had thought about that—about the possibility that this journey might be the last one for some of them. But she couldn't afford to let fear stop her now. If they didn't stop this dark magic, the threat would only grow, and no one—not even those who stayed behind—would be safe.

"As I've already said, we're coming back," she repeated, her voice steady. "We've faced impossible odds before, and we'll face them again. We don't have a choice. This thing, whatever it is, it's not going to stop until we stop it."

Freya, her eyes calm but filled with determination, stepped closer to the group. "Kratos and I have fought battles that would break most people. We have seen the worst the realms have to offer. We will return. And when we do, this threat will be gone."

Kratos, standing tall with the Leviathan Axe on his back and the Blades of Chaos hanging at his sides, remained silent, but his presence was a reassurance in itself. He didn't need to speak to convey the strength and resolve that emanated from him.

Ruby let out a long breath, shaking her head. "I don't like it, but I understand. You do what you gotta do. We'll keep the place safe while you're gone."

Omar nodded. "We've handled things here before. We'll manage."

Willy, still looking worried, glanced up at Clementine. "Promise you'll come back?"

Clementine knelt down, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I promise, Willy. We'll come back. And when we do, we'll have beaten this."

Willy nodded. "Okay. Just… be careful."

Louis, trying to lighten the mood, smiled and gave a mock salute. "Careful is my middle name. Well, that and 'badass with a bow.' But you know, close enough."

Violet shook her head, but there was warmth in her voice as she responded. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Louis."

The group stood in a heavy silence for a moment, the weight of their departure settling over them. They had built something here at Ericson's—a fragile community, a family. But now, they were stepping into the unknown again, chasing a threat they didn't fully understand.

Freya turned to Kratos, her voice low. "It's time."

Kratos nodded once and started toward the door. Mimir, hanging from his belt, spoke up, his tone more serious than usual. "Aye, it's time we face whatever darkness is out there. But don't you lot worry—we've got a god on our side after all. Two, actually."

Clementine smiled briefly at Mimir's attempt at reassurance, but the tension in her chest remained. She turned to her group one last time. "We'll be back. Hold things down here. We trust you."

Ruby, Omar, Aasim, and Willy nodded solemnly, watching as Clementine, Kratos, Freya, AJ, Violet, and Louis gathered their things and prepared to leave.

As they stepped out of the main hall and into the early morning light, the air felt colder, the weight of their task pressing down on them. The trees surrounding the school loomed like silent sentinels, watching them as they took their first steps toward the unknown.

Clementine took a deep breath and looked back at the school, the place that had become their home. She knew this journey would be dangerous—possibly the most dangerous one they had faced yet. But if they didn't do it, no one else would.

Kratos, walking beside her, gripped the handle of his axe tightly, his eyes scanning the horizon as if searching for their next battle. Freya walked ahead, her magic subtly rippling around her, already preparing for the challenges they would face. AJ stayed close to Clementine, his small hand gripping her jacket tightly, but his face was set with determination.

As they left Ericson's behind, the world seemed to stretch out before them—a vast, unknown land filled with danger, magic, and shadows. But together, they would face whatever came next.