The cat by the shore seemed to have been waiting for quite some time. Little Mia had clearly climbed out of the Upper Spring faster, so Stella asked:
"Little Mia, do you want to leave with me?"
But as soon as she asked, she immediately shook her head again:
"No, it's dangerous outside. You should stay here and wait for Ellie. Be careful of anyone who comes here. Don't trust anyone but Ellie."
She manipulated the droplets on her body into ice crystals, then shook herself to make them fall away, drying her clothes. The White-haired Girl then reached out, wanting to pat Little Mia's head, but Little Mia naturally dodged her.
Instead, Stella smiled.
"Remember, don't wander around alone. Even if you leave here, make sure you go with Ellie."
After saying that, she hurried toward the cave entrance. But after taking two steps, she awkwardly returned and fished out [Frostmourne], which had sunk to the bottom of the pool with her, before truly leaving.
The cat's amber eyes watched her retreating figure, its face wearing an inscrutable expression. Of course, perhaps that was only because the cave was too dark.
Stella did not look back. Worried about the situation outside, she quickly passed through the passage and emerged from the waterfall.
She had imagined what might be happening outside. Perhaps everyone was besieging an enormous Black Snake, or perhaps the black-robed man had already unleashed his power in the ruins and knocked everyone down.
But when she parted the curtain-like droplets, what she saw was the scenery of ruins beneath the setting twilight. Yellow sand had replaced the white snow and buried the ruins, while the windblown sand stung her skin.
Though neither the Sun nor Moon could be seen in the sky, a dim yellowish light remained.