Chapter 172

Elera and I found a moment of respite amidst the chaos that had consumed our lives. The remnants of Talisca’s empire were being dismantled, and a fragile sense of peace lingered in the air. We sat together in my office, the weight of the world pressing upon us.

“Do you ever think about going back?” Elera asked, my gaze fixed on the map spread across the table. “Returning to our lives as federal agents, fighting crime within the confines of the system.”

She sighed softly, her eyes tracing the lines on the map. “I have thought about it, Alex. The thought of reclaiming what we had, of returning to the familiar, is enticing. But deep down, I know things have changed. The world has changed. We have changed.”

I leaned back in my chair, a mix of nostalgia and resignation filling my voice. “You’re right. Our experiences have reshaped us, made us see the flaws in the system we once served. We’ve seen the dark underbelly of justice, the compromises and sacrifices required to