Finally back at the villa, a sense of real, if temporary, normalcy settled over Ethan. The tension that had clung to him since entering Ember City eased just a little, replaced by something warmer and familiar. For the moment, this felt like home.
He wasted no time organizing everyone, assigning rooms and responsibilities with practiced efficiency. He even had Micah reinforce the grounds with several perimeter Magic Barriers, subtle but layered, more than enough to discourage anything short of a serious threat.
"Ethan…" Lyla approached once things quieted down, her gaze fixed on him as if she were memorizing his face. "You're leaving again, aren't you?"
He met her eyes and nodded. The team was safest here. "Stay put. I'll be back before nightfall."
She looked like she wanted to argue, to demand answers or insist on coming along, but in the end she swallowed the words.
