The realization hit Leo first, settling in his chest like a stone.
They were leaving.
Not someday—not soon—but tomorrow.
He stood at the edge of the clearing, staring at the mortal road stretching beyond the trees. It was a humble path of dirt and gravel, winding through a world that didn't care about ancient prophecies or heavenly wars. No guards stood watch here. No sigils glowed in the dark. Just dust, noise, and people who didn't know his name—or the weight it carried.
"I don't want to go yet," he said suddenly, his voice cracking the silence.
Everyone turned to him. The air, which had been thick with the mental preparation for war, suddenly shifted.
Felix tilted his head, a playful spark returning to his eyes. "That sounded dangerously emotional, Leo. Are you going soft on us?"
Leo smiled weakly, looking at his hands.
"Just for one day. Can we… can we just be normal? No Heir. No Leaders. No mission."
Ember exchanged a long look with Kai. She looked ready to argue for security, but then she saw the exhaustion in Leo's eyes—the same exhaustion she felt in her own bones.
Melissa watched Leo carefully, a soft understanding dawning in her expression.
"There's a market fair in the village nearby," Melissa said softly. "We passed the signs for it yesterday. It's the harvest festival."
Felix brightened instantly, his daggers forgotten. "Say no more. I vote for chaos, fried snacks, and a series of poor financial decisions."
Kai sighed, though there was no real bite to it. "I already regret this."
They went anyway.
The market was a riot of life.
Music from lutes and drums spilled into the evening air. Paper lanterns swayed from the eaves of stalls, casting a warm, orange glow over the bustling crowd. Children ran past with sugared fruit in their hands, their laughter echoing freely—carelessly.
Merchants shouted prices, and the smell of roasting meat and sweet dough filled the air.
Leo walked slower than the others, his eyes wide. In the Second Realm, people will probably look at him with awe or suspicion.
Here, he was just a boy in a travel-worn cloak.
No one bowed. No one stared. No one expected him to save the world.
Felix, true to his word, dragged Kai toward a stall selling ridiculous, oversized hats.
"You'd look amazing in that," Felix said, holding up a hat decorated with peacock feathers and entirely impractical silk ribbons.
Kai stared at the object as if it were a high-level threat. "…No. Absolutely not."
Felix put it on Kai's head anyway, adjusting it with a flourish.
Ember snorted, trying to hide her amusement behind her hand. Melissa laughed openly—a real, bell-like sound—and something in Ember's chest loosened. The constant, buzzing tension she carried seemed to evaporate in the heat of the crowd.
"Worth it," Ember declared, pointing at a red-faced Kai.
Kai removed the hat with as much dignity as a man could muster while holding a peacock feather. "You're both impossible."
"But happy," Felix said brightly, his grin reaching his eyes for the first time since the betrayal.
Kai paused, looking at the trio—at Leo's wonder, Melissa's laughter, and Felix's light. He looked back at the hat, then at Felix. "…Yes. I suppose so."
Melissa wandered toward a stall draped in handwoven bracelets and charms. She picked one up absently, her fingers running over the intricate blue and gold threads. It was simple, mortal work, but it felt solid and real.
Ember watched her from the shadows of the booth.
"You like it," Ember said, not a question but an observation.
Melissa blinked, startled. "Oh—no, it's just pretty. We shouldn't spend the gold on trifles."
Ember didn't argue. She simply stepped forward, dropped a few coins on the table, and took the bracelet. She took Melissa's hand—her touch surprisingly gentle—and tied the thread around her wrist.
"For today," Ember said, her voice dropping to a private murmur. "No leaders. No expectations. Just a gift."
Melissa's eyes softened, her heart fluttering.
"Thank you, Ember."
Nearby, Leo had discovered a vendor selling honey-glazed sweet bread. He took his first bite and nearly cried.
"This is illegal," he announced to the group, his mouth half-full. "How has no one told me about this? We're fighting for a realm that doesn't have this?"
Felix laughed so hard he nearly dropped his mug of spiced cider. Even Kai bought something quietly—a small, hand-carved wooden charm of a wolf—and slipped it into his pocket without a word to anyone.
They sat together on a low, grassy hill overlooking the fair. Below them, the lanterns glowed like fallen stars, and the music drifted upward on the cool night breeze.
No plans. No strategies. No fear of the dark.
Just them.
Leo hugged his knees to his chest, watching the lights. "Tomorrow… everything changes. We cross the border. We go back to the sigils and the shadows."
Melissa rested her chin on Ember's shoulder, the new bracelet catching the light. Felix leaned back, resting his weight against Kai's side without thinking. Kai didn't pull away; he remained as a steady, silent anchor for them all.
"For today," Ember said quietly, her eyes reflecting the festival lights, "you're just Leo. And we're just... us."
Leo smiled—a small, grateful thing. "For today."
The music continued to play as the sky deepened into a velvet indigo. They stayed until the lanterns began to dim and the world grew quiet again.
Because some days aren't meant to be saved for the history books. They're meant to be tucked away in the heart, remembered when the nights get too cold.