Lumberling adjusted his cloak and looked back one last time before stepping onto the forest trail. The morning mist still clung to the ground, curling around their feet as he, Liraeth, Vaenyra, and Aurelya began their quiet departure.
From behind, Thessalia stood at the edge of the city, arms folded loosely as she watched their figures fade into the haze.
"Come back safe," she whispered, her voice barely reaching the wind.
She stayed there for a while, eyes fixed on the path long after they had vanished. Only then did she realize how much he had come to mean to her. She thought of his laughter, his reckless grin, and the way he always looked out for everyone. Something in her chest softened.
He wasn't just a companion anymore, he had become family. His warmth, his wild spirit, the way he made them stronger together, it all made her heart feel strangely full.
