The decision was final.
No more stalling, no more pretending that Solitude could ever be home for me. I spent the next few days quietly preparing. Every coin I'd saved working for Radiant Raiment went into gear I knew I'd need for the road ahead.
First, a better sword. My old steel blade had served me fine, but the edge was worn, the weight unbalanced. At Beirand's forge, I traded it in for a freshly made one, a Nordic steel longsword with a clean line and a proper edge that gleamed even in the forge smoke. When I held it, it felt right—heavy, but not too heavy. I'd need something I could trust when steel and blood decided my life.
Next, armor. I didn't go for anything flashy—just a reinforced cuirass, bracers that didn't pinch, and a pair of boots that could actually survive mud and snow without giving me blisters. Practical. That's all I needed.
After that, supplies. Food for the road. A waterskin. A whetstone. Things I used to ignore in Skyrim the game because they were just "flavor," but here? If I forgot one, it could mean starving in the wild or dying thirsty halfway to Windhelm.
I didn't tell the sisters much. Endarie probably noticed anyway—she always noticed—but she said nothing beyond her usual glare when I walked in and out. Taarie… she didn't ask either, though I caught her watching me once or twice. I think she knew.
The last thing I did before heading to the stables was stop at the inn. I had asked the innkeeper if there was work—anything to justify my next few steps. I didn't want to feel like I was wandering aimlessly. She mentioned a letter that needed to go to the chief at Dragon Bridge. Simple work. A delivery. Nothing heroic. But it gave me purpose, and more importantly, it gave me direction.
So when the morning came, I was ready. Sword on my back, new armor snug against my chest, pack full of supplies. My purse was light again, but I wasn't starting empty. I'd earned this much.
The carriage was waiting, the driver yawning and pulling at his reins. My destination was Windhelm eventually, but Dragon Bridge would come first. Then… Solstheim. The thought of it made my stomach twist.
I was about to climb up when I heard it.
"Chad!"
The voice was too sharp, too close to mistake. I froze, hand still gripping the edge of the carriage. Slowly, I turned.
Taarie.
She was moving fast, skirts catching against the cobblestones, her usual composure cracked. Her eyes… red at the edges, watery, though she was trying to keep her chin up like nothing was wrong. But I could see it. For once, the High Elf who always looked above me wasn't hiding the fact that something hurt.
She stopped just short of me, catching her breath. For a second, I thought she was going to snap at me—order me not to go, to come back inside, to keep working at the shop. That's what I expected from her. The sharp tongue, the commanding tone.
But instead, her voice wavered.
"You're really leaving."
It wasn't a question.
I nodded, slowly. "Yeah."
She bit her lip, her golden eyes flicking away for a moment before she looked back up at me. "I should tell you not to. I should tell you you're a fool, that you'll get yourself killed out there. But… I won't. It wouldn't matter anyway, would it?"
"No," I admitted. "It wouldn't."
For a moment, silence hung between us. The driver cleared his throat, looking annoyed, but I ignored him.
Then, Taarie pulled something from around her neck. An amulet. The silver chain caught the morning light as she pressed it into my hand. "Take this."
I stared at it, dumbfounded. "What is—"
"It's enchanted," she said quickly, almost defensively. "Protection. Not much, but better than nothing. So you'll take it. And you'll promise me you'll return it."
"Taarie—"
She cut me off, her voice trembling now. "And if you return, I'll… I'll confess my feelings. So you better return back to me! I'm always going to be here, waiting…"
Her words hit harder than any sword could. My chest felt like it was caving in. For a second, I wanted to throw everything away—the sword, the supplies, the quest—and just stay. Stay here, in Solitude, where things were simple, where someone was waiting for me.
But that wasn't my reality.
Before I could answer, she tried to cover it up, wiping at her eyes and forcing a sharp smile. "Of course, I'll be waiting because you're the only man qualified to work at Radiant Raiment. Endarie won't admit it, but you're better than most. Don't let it go to your head."
Her voice cracked at the end, betraying the lie.
I didn't know what to say. I couldn't promise her I'd be back. Not when Miraak was out there. Not when Mora was watching. Not when Solstheim waited with horrors I only half understood.
All I could do was close her hand over the amulet. "Just make sure no one else fills my job while I'm gone," I said softly. "That spot's mine, right?"
Her eyes widened, glistening again. For the first time since I met her, Taarie didn't have a quick comeback. She just nodded, her lips pressed tight as if she couldn't trust herself to speak.
I turned then, climbing onto the carriage before I could second-guess myself. The driver snapped the reins, the wheels creaked forward, and Solitude slowly began to fade from view.
I didn't look back.
Because if I did, I wasn't sure I'd be able to leave at all.