章 26: Beneath the Stars
The night air was cool and dense with the scent of damp earth as the group continued their journey along the riverbank. The stars were out in full force, their silver light spilling over the landscape in a quiet, celestial glow. The only sounds were the rhythmic rush of the water beside them and the occasional call of a nightbird echoing through the trees.
David walked at the front, his face illuminated by starlight, his eyes set on the path ahead. Behind him, Ivane kept her arms wrapped tightly around herself, looking up at the sky every so often, as if it held answers she couldn't quite reach. Giorgi followed, humming softly to himself.
"Does it ever bother you?" Ivane broke the silence, her voice low and thoughtful.
David glanced over his shoulder. "What?"
"This... uncertainty." Ivane's eyes flickered toward the mountains in the distance. "All this... searching. Not knowing if what we're doing will even matter in the end."
David slowed his pace, thinking. "It bothers me," he admitted, keeping his tone light, though there was a hint of weariness in it. "But I guess... I've just gotten used to it. You keep moving, even if the destination's unclear."
Giorgi laughed from behind them, his voice warm and loud against the quiet night. "See? That's why you two overthink everything. Not everything needs to be solved, you know. Sometimes, you just enjoy the walk."
Ivane smirked. "And you're just happy to go along for the ride?"
"Hey," Giorgi shrugged, "as long as there's good company, I don't mind where we end up."
David laughed, his tension easing a little. "See, that's the spirit."
The three of them fell into a comfortable silence as they walked, each lost in their own thoughts, the occasional crunch of gravel underfoot the only sound that accompanied them. After a while, they reached a small clearing by the river, where the trees pulled back just enough to reveal a patch of open sky. David glanced around and nodded.
"Here's good," he said, setting his bag down and looking around the area.
Giorgi stretched his arms and dropped his own bag, letting out a long, exaggerated sigh. "Finally! I thought my feet were going to fall off."
Ivane rolled her eyes but dropped her own pack as well, easing down onto the ground and crossing her legs. "You complain too much, Giorgi."
"Hey, someone's got to keep you two entertained," Giorgi replied with a wink.
They sat there in the clearing, their faces turned up to the stars, each one brighter than the last. It was one of those rare, silent moments that seemed to stretch on, filling them with a peace they hadn't known they needed.
After a moment, Ivane turned to David, breaking the silence. "Do you think the Builder ever felt like this?"
"Like what?" David asked.
"Like..." Ivane hesitated, searching for the right words. "Like they were just... wandering. Wondering if any of this was worth it."
David thought for a moment, a pensive look crossing his face. "Maybe," he said quietly. "I think anyone who's ever tried to change things felt like that at some point. Maybe it's not about knowing everything. It's just... trusting that you're doing something that matters."
Ivane nodded, though her eyes were distant and thoughtful. Giorgi, meanwhile, had leaned back, his hands behind his head, as he looked up at the stars.
"Look at all of this," he said suddenly, breaking the mood. "All these stars up there. They're just... hanging out. Not worrying about anything. Just... existing."
David chuckled. "And you'd like to be a star, then?"
"Maybe," Giorgi said with a shrug. "At least they don't have to think so much."
They all laughed, the sound mingling with the rustle of the trees around them. For a brief, precious moment, their worries seemed to melt away, replaced by the warmth of friendship and the solace of shared laughter.
As they settled down to rest, the stars overhead watched in silence, and the whispers of the past seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the quiet promise of what lay ahead.
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