No Happiness Guaranteed

Previously

…The light in Elias's pocket flared, not with the cold promise of the compass, but with a warm, steady glow. He understood then. The compass wasn't a map to happiness; it was a mirror to his heart. And in that moment, facing the darkness, choosing connection over solitary pursuit, his heart was finally showing him something true. The beast, starved of his focused regret, began to dissipate, its shadowy form dissolving into the night air, leaving behind only the soft glow of the waterfall and the lingering scent of pine. He looked at Phetheni, a genuine smile gracing his lips, a smile that reached his eyes. The journey, he knew, had truly begun.