Farewell

The group heading down the mountain had more or less assembled. Everyone was told they would be taking another route to the cable car. Supposedly, the bus back to the city was right at the cable car's terminal, only a few steps away. Eucali skipped along amid the crowd and turned back to Hesta. "I don't want to walk a single unnecessary step!"

Yet Hesta kept looking around as though she had not heard her at all.

"Jane?" Eucali stepped closer. "What are you looking for?"

Hesta did not explain. She only suddenly said, "Go with everyone first. I'll catch up soon."

"Wait, what are you going to do?"

"I'll be right back."

Hesta left the crowd and went to the outer edge of the inn. She circled around the building and soon caught sight of Ksenia near the mountain pass on the side where they had come up. She was walking alone along a narrow mountain path, slowly disappearing behind the rocks in the blink of an eye.

Hesta surveyed the terrain on both sides and chose the shortest, though steepest, route. When she lightly landed on the rock wall behind Ksenia, Ksenia heard the sound as well. She looked up and saw Hesta poised high above like an antelope.

"...What are you doing up there?" Ksenia asked.

Hesta let go and jumped down beside Ksenia, precise and light.

"Are you going down the mountain tonight?"

"No," Ksenia said softly. "I want to stay and watch the sunrise."

"Then I came to say goodbye," Hesta said. "I'm leaving."

Looking at Ksenia before her, Hesta suddenly understood why she had kept hoping to come say goodbye to Ksenia alone, with no one else around... Like now: when neither of them spoke, no one would break the stillness. Even the silence