**Chapter 130 – The Return**
The sun was already low when the movement in the courtyard changed.
Lysithea was the first to notice. She was near the entrance of the companions' building, talking quietly with Graciela, when she saw the group crossing the gates. Mirella and Elara arrived a few seconds later, clearly having noticed the same thing.
The group came together.
Joker and Harley in front. Then Astrid, Rina, Marina, Sylvara, Lirien and Kuroe. Elowen a little farther back, but clearly part of it. Whole. Tired. In no hurry.
Lysithea let out the air she hadn't even realized she was holding.
— They're back.
— Look at that — Graciela murmured. — In one piece. What a miracle.
The group approached. There was no open guilt on their faces, but there was also no forced innocence. Only the light fatigue of a long day and the calm of people who had already resolved what needed to be resolved.
— Good afternoon — Harley said.
Graciela raised an eyebrow.
— Good afternoon, is it? You leave in the morning, disappear the entire Saturday and come back saying "good afternoon"?
— We said we were going out — Astrid answered.
— Saying you're going out isn't the same as saying where — Lysithea said firmly.
Mirella crossed her arms.
— So? Where did you go?
Joker answered without beating around the bush:
— Adventurers' Guild.
The silence became a little different.
Graciela raised both eyebrows this time.
— Guild.
— Guild — Harley confirmed. — We went in, took a mission, solved it and came back.
Mirella looked at the two with more interest than irritation.
— You went straight to the guild.
— We did — Joker said.
— Rank?
— C. Corrupted wolves in the Gray Deer Forest. There was a report of abnormal leadership. We eliminated the pack, confirmed the mission at the northern branch, sold the materials in the capital and came back.
Graciela whistled low, impressed against her will.
— Rank C on the first Saturday outing. You two don't have a middle ground, do you.
— We never did — Harley answered, smiling.
Mirella let out a breath through her nose, almost laughing.
— That reminded me of an old mission. Similar rank. Graciela almost broke a client's leg because he kept yelling in the middle of the fight.
— He was getting in the way — Graciela grumbled. — And I didn't almost. I broke it. I just didn't break it for good out of politeness.
— Your politeness is questionable — Mirella said.
— It worked.
Lysithea ran a hand over her face, tired, but clearly relieved under the worry.
— You could have told us.
— If we had told you — Joker said calmly — you would have wanted to come along. Or tried to stop us.
— With reason — Mirella retorted.
— I know. That's why we didn't tell you.
It was only then that Elara truly looked at the girl a little farther away in the group.
— And her?
The gazes turned to Elowen.
For a moment, it became clear that, despite having already seen her face in the courtyards and cafeterias, none of the adults had actually spoken properly with the girl.
Harley took a step to the side, making space.
— Right. I think we never introduced her formally.
Joker made a simple gesture in her direction.
— This is Elowen. She's been walking with us.
Elowen held the four women's gazes without shrinking back.
— …Nice to meet you.
Lysithea was the first to soften her expression. Her gaze lingered on the silver hair, the deeper eyes, the quiet but firm posture.
— So it's you… I used to see you from a distance in the cafeteria. I never really got to talk properly.
— Me neither — Elowen admitted.
— Come here — Lysithea said, making a light gesture with her hand.
Elowen hesitated only a second before approaching more. Lysithea looked at her up close, almost the way she used to with her own children years ago.
— Are you okay?
— I am. Tired. But okay.
— Good.
Graciela tilted her head, evaluating.
— Skinny. But she looks like someone who can take a beating.
— Graciela — Lysithea scolded.
— What? It was a compliment.
Mirella gave a half-smile.
— She's right. There's a look of someone who doesn't run easily.
Elara observed in silence, but her gaze was far less closed than usual.
— Where did you come from?
— From a kingdom of only women — Elowen answered without beating around the bush. — I was sent to the academy.
— Alone? — Lysithea asked.
— With others. But… I ended up getting closer to this group.
Harley lightly tapped her shoulder.
— And she stayed.
— She stayed — Kuroe confirmed.
Lysithea smiled small, for the first time since the group returned.
— Then… welcome. For real.
Elowen blinked, a little surprised by the sudden warmth.
— …Thank you.
Graciela crossed her arms, but her voice came out less harsh.
— If you're going to stick with this troop, learn early: they give trouble. A lot of trouble.
— I've already noticed — Elowen answered.
— And even so you stayed — Mirella said. — Either courage, or lack of judgment.
— A bit of both — Harley murmured.
Elara took a step closer.
— If you need anything… you don't have to go only through them. You can talk to us too.
Elowen looked at the four. For an instant, something in her gaze softened.
— I'll remember.
It was only after that that Lysithea went back to paying attention to the rest.
— And this whole change… isn't just mission fatigue.
— It isn't — Harley said. — We placed the mark on her.
This time the silence was larger.
Mirella looked at Joker.
— Of course you did.
— She wanted it — he answered. — We explained. She accepted.
Elowen kept her gaze firm.
— I asked. I wasn't forced. And I don't regret it.
Elara observed the girl for another moment.
— Did the mark take well?
— It did — Elowen answered. — I'm still getting used to it.
— It'll take time — Kuroe said. — But she can handle it.
Lysithea let out a slow breath, looking at Elowen with a clear mix of worry and affection.
— You're going to kill me with worry one day.
— Not yet — Harley said, smiling sideways. — We're good at coming back.
— Good my ass — Graciela grumbled. — One day you'll come back with half the group missing and I swear I'll tear the whole academy down.
— Then we'll help — Astrid answered.
— You don't help, girl. That's not funny.
Despite the tone, the tension had already dropped. In the middle of it, something warmer remained: relief, interest and a new space opening for Elowen among the adults.
Mirella ran a hand through her hair, more resigned than angry.
— One day you're going to come back with news that I really won't be able to swallow easily.
— It still wasn't today — Harley answered.
— Don't provoke.
— I'm not provoking. I'm being honest.
— Even worse.
Lysithea looked at the entire group one more time. Then her gaze returned to Elowen, softer.
— Next time — she said — you tell us. Even if we argue. Even if we try to go along. You tell us.
Joker nodded.
— All right.
— It's not all right — Graciela murmured. — But… at least you came back. And you brought one more.
Elara looked at Elowen.
— If you feel anything strange… say something.
— I will.
— Don't hide it.
— I won't hide it.
The sun had almost disappeared behind the buildings. Saturday was truly coming to an end.
And for the first time that day, the four adults and the group were in the same place again.
Not in complete peace.
But together.
And now, with real space for Elowen in the middle of them.
**End of Chapter 130**