Zion stayed where he was, barely moving as the forest remained silent around him.
Time passed slowly, each minute feeling endless.
The Sentinel did not speak, nor did it look at him again.
Nearly half an hour passed. Zion clenched his hands, frustrated by the delay of their judgment.
'This leaves a sour taste,' he thought.
He felt the exact same sense of hopelessness he had while imprisoned by the Sovereignty. That suffocating uncertainty, where another's judgment decided whether he would live to see another day.
Finally, heavy footsteps echoed through the forest, trees shaking left and right.
Zion's head snapped up immediately, watching the other Sentinel emerge from the dense forest. Only this time, it wasn't alone.
His eyes darted past the massive figure, catching sight of another Sentinel—this one far smaller, standing at only about twice his height.
The smaller Sentinel didn't hesitate, immediately jumping past the elder and running toward Zion's ship.
