Kenji locked eyes with Tony, voice steady. "Well? I'm waiting. Break it."
Tony froze, his usual grin gone. He caught the blade in one hand, stared at it, then met Kenji's gaze. "Kenji… I can't. Even if you're asking me to." He tossed the sword back gently; Kenji snatched it mid-air with ease.
From the cave's corner, Timmy's small voice piped up. "Kenji, shouldn't you be happy? At least Eleo saved us all."
Kenji didn't answer right away. He stared at the sword, then slowly turned to Eleo. "Yeah… I know. That's why I haven't walked out yet. But I asked him a question—if we were all in danger… and so was that necklace… who would he save?" His voice hardened. "And that silence? It says everything."
Eleo's ears drooped. He took a shaky breath, then dropped to his knees. Trembling, he set the necklace on the cave floor. The charm clinked softly against stone, echoing in the quiet.
"I'm sorry," Eleo whispered, then louder: "I'm really, really, really sorry, Kenji. I should've helped you guys before chasing Abby… the necklace. I—I screwed up."
All eyes shifted to Kenji, who stood like a statue.
Eleo pressed on. "Even if I saved us in the end, it doesn't erase what I skipped. If you think I value this thing more than you… I don't blame you for being pissed."
Kenji drew a slow breath and stepped forward. "Eleo." His tone calmed. "I'm not asking you to burn it or toss it. Just—next time, save us first. Before any object. That's all."
Eleo nodded hard, eyes shiny. "I will. Promise."
Tony shot a skeletal arm skyward. "And I'd like to chime in, thanks." He fake-sniffled. "Personally? I'm hurt—oh, who am I kidding, *super* hurt! Bag of bones, joke machine, but I got feelings too, okay?!"
Olorun stepped up, rubbing his neck, quieter than usual. "Yeah… same. I mess around a ton, but hearing you ditched us mid-stomp for that necklace? Stung bad, man."
Chiyo scoffed, arms crossed. "Yeah, you idiot. Could've asked me after the fight—I'd have helped hunt it down. Now you've got a full-blooded vampire heartbroken. Happy?!"
Eleo's ears twitched; he hung his head. "You're all right… every one of you. I didn't mean to make it seem like the necklace topped you guys. Sorry I did. Truth is…" He scanned the room. "I suck at leading. Hell, I barely know what I'm doing. I just wanna get strong. And I want you with me."
He chuckled awkwardly. "I'm dumb—super dumb—but I wanna grow. Even if I flop over and over, I'll learn to be better. So…"
He stood, arms wide, eyes squeezed shut.
"If you wanna beat me up… go for it. I deserve it."
His body shook.
Silence weighed down the cave. Eleo stood exposed, ears flat, arms open, eyes clamped.
Then—
"Tch…" Chiyo sighed.
She stormed forward, grabbed his collar, and yanked him into a fierce hug.
"You dumb, fluffy moron," she muttered, voice thick. "Next time you're that reckless, at least drag me into it."
*Thump.* Tony pile-drove in, bones rattling. "You emotionally reckless rodents—I *love* this vibe!"
"MEEP MEEP!" Kawai launched like a fuzzy missile, latching to Eleo's face like a clingy toy.
Timmy paused, arms crossed, dead serious—then toddled over, all 20 centimeters of him, and bonked his tiny forehead against Eleo's knee.
"You better not make me sad again, carrot-brain." His voice cracked. "We just decided to like you."
Olorun sighed long, then smiled soft and sauntered in. "Alright… fine. Group thing."
He leaned in—begrudgingly.
Eleo blinked, ears perking. "You guys…"
Kenji watched from the back. Quiet. Still.
Then he moved. Sword sheathed. Voice low, even.
"I'm still mad." He rested a hand on Eleo's head. "But I'm not leaving."
Eleo's eyes shimmered. "Does that mean…?"
Kenji cut him off.
"One chance to prove you learned. Don't blow it."
And then—surprising himself—he joined the hug, hand on Eleo's back.
They stood tangled in dust, exhaustion, warmth. No speeches. No fanfare.
PQ groaned from his ink-rope bindings, teeth gritted. "Okay, enough of this crap. Just kill me already."
Timmy pointed accusingly, arms crossed. "Guys! This jerk's with the Sandy Bandys!"
"MEEP MEEP!" Kawai flailed his stubs.
Eleo, Tony, Kenji, Olorun, and Chiyo swapped blank stares.
"…Who?" they chorused, perfectly synced.
PQ, half-buried in sand, scoffed. "You fools! How do you *not* know us?! We're the Heroes of Noya! Legends!"
Kenji's eyes narrowed, deadpan. "Oh yeah? Explain attacking us like bandits, then."
Eleo stomped, puffing up. "Yeah, jerk! Heroes don't pop outta sand traps!"
PQ squirmed. "The bones… that sand worm… I was stealing 'em from you idiots!"
Tony tilted his skull, smirking smug. "Heh. Hero, huh? Stealing from us screams low-rent villain."
PQ grumbled. "Fine! Explain who we are, and you'll untie me?"
The crew huddled in a messy knot, muttering. They spun back.
Olorun bowed theatrically. "Yes, dear dwarf. We'll graciously free you… if you spill."
PQ sighed deep. "We're hunting the First King's Armor. Leader wants it—to be strongest, claim King of Noya."
Eleo's ears shot up; fists balled, face flushing. "HEY! *I'm* gonna be strongest! Guess I'll kick your boss's ass!"
Tony cackled. "That's my diplomacy."
Chiyo crossed arms, brows knit. "So who's this guy? How many of you clowns?"
PQ shrugged. "Eight. Ten with newbies."
Timmy dove into PQ's pocket, rummaging.
"HEY!" PQ yelped, thrashing.
Timmy ignored, yanked out wrinkled parchment from his leafy pouch. "Got it! Map to Noya!"
Olorun rifled more, snagging bombs and a dagger. "That's it? No snacks? No scrolls?"
*SLAP.*
"OW! Bastard—quit slapping!" PQ roared.
Timmy raised a paw. "I could use those bombs."
Olorun tossed 'em. "Knock yourself out."
Timmy crammed all six into his tiny bag, humming cheerfully.
Eleo blinked. "Wait—!"
Tony gasped. "Oh crap, forgot—Timmy's bag eats *anything*!"
Chiyo leaned in. "Huh? For real?!"
Olorun hefted a massive worm bone, slid it in. Vanished.
Chiyo and Kawai's eyes sparkled.
"You little punk," Olorun jabbed a finger. "Why hold out?!"
Timmy shrugged. "Nobody asked."
Kenji and Tony scrambled, stuffing bones like candy-grabbers.
PQ groaned. "I spilled everything—untie me?!"
Eleo inspected an empty cup, casual. "Ehhhh…"
Without a word, the crew filed out, sunlight flooding in.
PQ screamed. "HEY! COME BACK—UNTIE ME, DAMN IT!"
Nobody did.
Minutes later, they trudged rocky dunes, dust caking boots and fur.
Timmy squinted at the map. "Few more miles to Noya Market."
Chiyo peered over. "Wait—right's Akhenaten… left, Amenhotep. River's Anuket—straight to Noya Kingdom. Beside that's Toka. Down here… giant river."
Timmy nodded. "Yeah, we'll hit 'em eventually… when Eleo says."
Eleo threw arms up. "Market first—I wanna explore!"
Chiyo smirked. "Alright, sir Eleo."
Olorun groaned, yanking his collar. "Move it. I'm *melting*. Why's the sun so agro?"
Kenji scowled, wiping sweat. "Tch. Same. Heat's pissing me off."
Kawai clung weakly to Olorun's back, limbs wobbling.
"Meeeeep…"