Sapphire's POV
I wanted to move on from whatever it was I had been feeling, but the problem was simple and frustrating at the same time. The cause of it was always within sight. No matter where I went inside the estate, no matter how much I tried to distract myself, there it was, quietly lingering at the edge of my awareness.
So I started thinking of ways to create distance.
If I filed for a day off, I could spend the entire day outside, wandering without purpose. Or maybe something longer. Something more decisive. A real break. A vacation. Two weeks, perhaps. Long enough to breathe, to reset, to loosen whatever grip this feeling had on me.
"Hmmm… maybe I should go on a vacation," I murmured to myself.
The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I had enough money saved up to cover two weeks without worry. And back at home, things wouldn't fall apart in my absence. Rosarie was there, and she seemed kind enough, reliable, even. I trusted that she would take good care of Lzith. And Amon was around too. He wouldn't let anything happen to her.
"Hmmm… yeah. I'll go on a vacation."
The decision settled in me with a quiet certainty.
Later that day, I told them I'd just step out for a bit. Nothing suspicious, nothing that would raise questions. Just a casual errand.
As I made my way out, I ran into Ghoth. He noticed me immediately. Of course he did, and asked where I was going.
"To the market," I answered simply.
He paused for a moment, then offered to come along, saying he wanted to stretch his legs anyway. There was nothing unusual about that, so I nodded and let him join me.
The market was lively as always, filled with overlapping voices, the scent of fresh produce, and the occasional clatter of carts and baskets. But I wasn't really there for the usual reasons. As we walked past stalls and vendors, I subtly began asking around, small, casual questions here and there.
Were there any good places to visit nearby?
Any quiet spots, scenic areas, or inns where one could stay for a while?
People were more than willing to share their thoughts. Some recommended peaceful countryside retreats, others talked about hidden places near the outskirts where the air was cleaner and the crowds thinner. A few even mentioned small lodgings that were inexpensive but comfortable enough for a short stay.
By the time we finished walking through the market, I had gathered more than enough information. And instead of calming me, it only fueled my desire to leave even more.
A break wasn't just an idea anymore, it was something I wanted.
"Are you really going on a vacation?" Ghoth suddenly asked.
I glanced at him briefly before looking ahead again. "Yeah. I just… miss it, I guess. Back where I came from, I used to do that too. Sometimes I'd stay at home, sometimes I'd go somewhere far. Somewhere quiet. Anywhere away from people."
He seemed to consider that, his expression thoughtful.
"That sounds interesting," he said after a moment. Then, more casually, "Can I come with you?"
I stopped walking for just a second, not long enough to make it obvious before continuing again.
"You can," I said, "but won't someone look for you?"
He shrugged slightly, as if it wasn't a problem worth worrying about. "I'll find a way."
There was something in the way he said it. Calm, confident that made it sound like he already had something in mind.
"Alright," I replied. "Let's plan it out now, then. I'll ask for permission two days from now. You should ask for yours today, so it doesn't look like you're planning to come with me."
A small, almost approving smile flickered across his face. "That's a good idea."
"If I don't get permission," I added, "then we'll just drop it. No expectations for now."
"Okay," he agreed.
There was a brief silence between us as we walked, but it wasn't uncomfortable. If anything, it felt… easy.
"I'll go ahead and ask first," he said after a while. "I'll head home."
"After two days," I continued, "meet me in the backyard. I'll let you know if I'm allowed to go or not. If Dayesh agrees to let me take a vacation, then we'll meet at that diner we passed earlier."
He nodded, understanding the plan without needing further explanation.
We parted ways not long after that, each carrying our own part of the plan.
That same day, Ghoth informed everyone that he would be returning home to Caelumn for a while. He didn't specify when he'd be back just that it would be indefinite.
It was a clever move.
From the outside, it looked completely unrelated to me.
Khafa stayed behind, as usual. Quiet, observant. I wasn't sure if Ghoth had told him anything about coming with me. If he did, Khafa didn't show it. If he didn't, then it meant Ghoth was being even more careful than I expected.
Either way, nothing seemed out of place. But beneath the surface, something had already started shifting.
That night, as I lay in bed, I found myself staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
It wasn't just the idea of the trip anymore.
It was the anticipation.
The thought of leaving everything behind, even just for a while… it felt like a kind of freedom I hadn't allowed myself to have in a long time.
And yet, mixed in with that feeling was something else. Something quieter. Something I couldn't quite name.
I turned to my side, closing my eyes, trying to ignore it. This was just a vacation, I reminded myself. Nothing more.
The next day passed slower than I expected.
Every interaction felt slightly heavier, like I was already halfway gone but still physically present. I caught myself observing small things—the way Lzith smiled, the way Rosarie gently guided her, the steady presence of Amon nearby.
For a moment, I hesitated.
Was I really okay leaving all of this, even temporarily? But then that lingering feeling returned, that same thing I had been trying to escape and it was enough to steady my decision again. This wasn't about running away. It was about breathing.
Somewhere else, Ghoth was likely dealing with his own preparations.
I could almost imagine it him speaking casually, giving just enough information to make his absence seem natural, while hiding everything else beneath the surface.
He was good at that, and I find it nice.
And for reasons I didn't want to think too deeply about, that thought made something stir faintly in my chest.
Two days.
That was all it would take before everything either moved forward… or stopped completely.
And as the hours slowly slipped by, I couldn't help but feel like something more than just a simple vacation was waiting at the end of it.