The moment she stepped past the trees, Elara saw him.
Kai was kneeling by the stream that curved through the clearing, carefully rinsing a basket of wild berries. The sun filtered gently through the trees, turning the water gold and green. His dark robes were soaked at the hem, and a few strands of hair had fallen across his face as he worked—completely unaware she was watching.
A smile tugged at Elara's lips.
She stepped forward silently, letting the soft grass quiet her approach. Then she darted the last few steps and wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Got you," she whispered.
Kai gave a startled laugh and leaned back into her arms. "You always do," he said, his voice low and full of warmth. "One day, you'll scare me right into the stream."
"I'd catch you before you fall," she replied, resting her head on his shoulder.
He turned to face her, pulling her into a proper hug, his arms strong and steady around her. For a moment, the world paused—the ache of the past, the fear of the future—all melted in the safety of that embrace.
"You've been wandering again," he said gently, brushing a leaf from her curls. "The ruins?"
Elara nodded but didn't speak. She didn't need to. Kai never pushed. He just understood—like he always had since they were children.
"I picked the sweet ones," he said after a pause, lifting the basket. "You still like the red berries best, don't you?"
Elara laughed, the sound soft and grateful. "You remember everything."
"I remember what matters," he said, and something in his voice made her chest tighten.
They sat by the stream together, legs stretched out, the basket between them. As they ate, Kai told her a ridiculous story about a squirrel who tried to steal his magic wand. She laughed until her sides hurt, tears stinging her eyes from joy instead of sorrow.
When the sun began to dip lower, Elara leaned against him again, watching the sky turn peach and gold. "Do you ever wonder what it would be like if things were… normal?" she asked quietly.
Kai didn't answer right away. "Sometimes," he said. "But I think the world gave us each other for a reason. That's enough for me."
She smiled softly, holding on to that truth, unaware that shadows were already moving behind his smile.
For now, he was her brother. Her safe place.
And she didn't know—yet—that he had already chosen a path that would break her heart.
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