The fire had burned low by the time Luca spoke again.
He looked at all of them—really looked this time—and smiled, a little tired but genuine.
"Where else can I go?" he said lightly. "Home, probably. Or I'll run into Eric… maybe some others along the way. Yeah , I will just meet up with Eric and come with him to the academy."
Kyle chuckled. "Figures. You always end up somewhere troublesome even when you don't mean to."
Aurelia nodded in agreement. "I think… it'll be good for all of us to return for a while."
Sylthara gave a quiet hum of approval. "The road teaches you many things. But staying still teaches others. And I still has many things to manage at our new home."
Everyone seemed to agree.
Everyone… except Selena.
She stood slightly apart, gaze drifting from face to face, as though she were trying to decide where she belonged in the picture. Her hands rested at her sides, fingers curling and uncurling faintly.
Kyle looked at Lilliane as he thought for a moment..
