A few hours later, as the sun rose over the horizon once more, the unsettling night finally passed, and the world welcomed light and hope again.
But for Clare, whose strength was nearly exhausted, nothing had changed.
On the contrary, her situation was growing worse by the moment.
Sometimes, while walking, her legs would suddenly give out, and she would collapse onto the ground, gasping for breath. Sweat had long since soaked through her filthy dress, while her slender legs were covered in scars and mud.
Since leaving the small town, the girl had been walking nonstop through the primeval forest for a full twenty-four hours, day and night.
Even an adult might not have been able to endure it, let alone a child barely in her teens.
"So? An entire night has passed. Still haven't figured it out?" Allen suddenly appeared beside Teresa and asked with interest.
"Why does it have to be me? Why don't you adopt her?" Teresa asked expressionlessly.
Allen smiled and shrugged. "Because she chose not me, but you. Just accept it. This is the thread of fate between you that cannot be severed."
"I don't believe it!"
With that, Teresa suddenly sped up, leaping down from a steep cliff more than ten meters high.
After a full day and night of "fierce battle," she had undoubtedly finally acknowledged Clare's perseverance and chosen to end everything in this almost evasive manner.
But unfortunately, only one second later, the battered little girl jumped down without hesitation from a height that could easily have killed her.
Crack!
She first grabbed a branch growing halfway down the cliff with both arms to cushion her fall, then rolled down together with the broken branch. In the end, she struck her head and fell unconscious.
"Damn it! Is this little