865 Echoes of Uncertainty: The Weight of Silence           

At the side, Sumeri and Isolde's laughter and chatter filled the room, a stark contrast to the weighty thoughts weighing on Ren's mind. 

Sumeri's easygoing nature and Isolde's youthful innocence provided a welcome distraction from the gravity of their situation. 

Ren couldn't help but envy their carefree demeanor, wishing he could shield them from the harsh realities of the world.

And then there was Nikolai, the youngest member of their group, his innocence and naivety a stark reminder of the innocence that Ren feared would be lost if he revealed the truth. 

Despite his youth, Ren knew that Nikolai possessed a keen sense of intuition, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he might sense something amiss.

As Ren's headache intensified, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, willing the pain to subside.