"This really is... No matter what, without That Lady, we truly couldn't have made it this far. Even now, I don't know what exactly she came here to do, but it doesn't matter."
Shade shook his head, then reached out to touch the Oasis Heart that Ms. Sandel was holding with great solemnity. After sensing the elements and abundant Life Force within it, he formally waved goodbye to the two of them:
"Grandma Sianode, Ms. Sandel, every journey must come to an end. Go back. I'll keep this journey in my heart forever."
The old elf leaning on her cane stepped forward and hugged Shade. Ms. Sandel was a little embarrassed, but in the end, she hugged him as well:
"Goodbye, strange man! May your journey carry you ever farther, and may you never lose your way even within the mist!"
Just as Shade had said, every journey eventually came to an end. After "losing" two companions in succession, there was now one fewer person setting out on the return journey.
They both had much they wanted to say to Shade, but in the end, Grandma Sianode blessed him in Elvish before stepping through the mist door. The boxes floated through one after another. The blue-haired girl at the rear turned around and waved desperately at Shade before finally stepping through as well.
And so, the mist door left behind by the god vanished, leaving only Shade and the cat poking its head out from his chest in this silent sea of sand.
Time had reached its end. He looked at the nearby Sun God Temple and the equally nearby campfire, finally extinguished the fire, and brought Little Mia back into the temple.
When all five of them had been there, the half-collapsed temple had seemed somewhat cramped. But now