The morning sun spilled warmly over the hillside as Azad stepped out of their cozy little home, taking a deep breath of the fresh air. Choco bounded past him, his tail wagging and nose twitching as he explored, seeming to enjoy the morning just as much as Azad. He looked around with a quiet appreciation for the place that had been a haven after so much hardship. He felt his heart stir with memories—the quiet evenings, the laughter, even the silence of knowing he wasn't alone. Yet, the urge to press forward, to search for answers, had become impossible to ignore.
Ellie noticed him and grinned, looking both amused and fond. "Well, well, look who finally decided to leave his bed. You ready for the day, Princess?"
Azad shot her a glare, though a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Stop calling me that! I'm no princess, and you know it."
She laughed, obviously entertained. "Oh, stop me if you can!" She gave him a wink and walked back toward the table on their little porch, where breakfast was laid out. "Alright, Princess. Come on, breakfast is ready."
"Whatever," Azad muttered with mock annoyance, rolling his eyes but letting the aroma of food distract him. Choco followed at his heels, plopping down next to his chair and gazing at him expectantly. "Don't mind if I do." He grabbed a plate and started eating, savoring every bite.
After a few moments of silence, Azad put his fork down and looked at Ellie seriously. "Ellie, I've been thinking… it's time we leave this place. We can't stay here forever, and I know that what happened to your grandfather has been haunting you."
Ellie's smile faded, replaced by a look of contemplation. She set her own fork down, fingers tracing the edge of her plate. "You're right. I don't like showing it, but it's eating me up inside. We need answers… and Azad, you were summoned here for a reason. We can't just pretend it's a holiday forever."
Azad nodded. "Exactly. This place… it's been amazing, but we've got a bigger journey to go on. And we're not going to find anything just sitting here." His gaze softened as he looked around. "So, let's pack up today, get ready to leave, and tomorrow… Tomorrow we start fresh."
Ellie brightened, a spark of excitement mixed with a tinge of sadness. "Then let's make tonight count. We'll have a celebration—a proper farewell for our little home." She looked at him, mischief twinkling in her eyes. "And no sneaking off to bed early, Princess."
"Fine," Azad laughed. "But only if you stop calling me that!"
Choco barked, as if in agreement, and the two friends spent the rest of the day packing their belongings, reminiscing about their time there. Azad quietly said to himself, "Feels strange to say goodbye. Almost feels like leaving behind part of myself." He looked down at Choco, who seemed to sense the change in mood, his tail slowing to a thoughtful wag. "Yeah, Choco, it's gonna be different from here on out."
Night fell, and the two friends gathered around a small fire outside, the flames casting a warm glow across their faces. They laughed and shared stories of their adventures and mishaps in this small corner of the world. They'd prepared a small feast, which they shared with Choco, who waited patiently with his best "I'm-starving-please-feed-me" look.
Ellie raised her cup, smiling warmly. "To our little home. To this place that kept us safe, and to everything ahead."
Azad raised his cup with a nod, feeling the weight of the moment.
The night wore on, the stars glittering overhead, and the laughter of friends echoed softly through the trees. As the fire died down, Azad looked up at the sky, a glint of determination in his eyes. "Tomorrow," he murmured to himself. "Tomorrow, we will start digging for the truth."
Choco let out a contented sigh, snuggling up next to him, and for a moment, Azad allowed himself to feel a bit of peace before the journey ahead.