We reached Hearthroot in three days.
That alone would have been unthinkable the first time I crossed the Expanse.
Back then, every stretch of road felt like a gamble, every bend like an invitation to die. This time, my body actually kept up with my intent. My legs didn't burn out after hours of walking, my lungs didn't feel like they were tearing themselves apart, and when I needed to push harder, I could. The increase in my physical stats mattered more than I expected. It wasn't strength in the heroic sense, but endurance, balance, and the ability to keep moving even when the terrain tried to punish us for it.
Knowing the routes helped too.
