Chapter 24 Chapter Twenty-four

• Crono poured out his fury against the wall. The room vibrated with anger as he struggled to contain the chaos boiling in his mind. He took a deep breath, but the air came to him like a staccato sigh. He moved to the shelf, his trembling hands clutching a bottle of whisky. In one swift movement, he uncorked it, releasing the heady aroma.
• He filled a glass with the liquid, his eyes reflecting the inner storm that consumed him. Without hesitation, he raised the glass to his lips, letting the fire of alcohol run down his throat. He closed his eyes, seeking relief from the burning. The whisky gave him a moment of calm. Crono dropped into a chair, bottle still in hand, trying to calm the storm raging inside him.
• The next morning, Freya came downstairs as usual for breakfast. Crono was already at the table. Without glancing at him, she sat down and began to eat, deliberately ignoring Crono's presence. Despite his attempt to remain calm, he couldn't help glancing sideways at her, but his words stuck in his throat. Choosing to keep his distance, he rose and left the dining room, heading for the training grounds.