Laxyie knocked once on the doorframe before stepping inside.
Tyke was sitting up on the bed, leg wrapped thickly in clean bandages. He looked tired, but the color had returned to his face. When he saw Laxyie, he smiled—small, but real.
"How're you feeling?" Laxyie asked.
Tyke shrugged. "The healer did a pretty good job. Still hurts if I move too much, but… I've had worse."
Laxyie raised an eyebrow. "You shouldn't have."
Tyke didn't answer that. Instead, his eyes drifted toward the window, where the smell of food from the streets below drifted in with the evening air.
Laxyie followed his gaze. "You hungry?"
Tyke's stomach answered before he did.
He hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah… kinda."
"What do you want?"
Tyke's eyes lit up, but then he hesitated again, his voice dropping. "I've… never had seafood before."
He looked up at Laxyie and made a face—half hopeful, half unsure, lips pulled down just enough to be unfair.
Laxyie stared at him.
"…You know that's expensive," he said flatly.
Tyke's shoulders slumped a little.
Then Laxyie sighed. "But—you did good back there."
Tyke blinked.
"So I'll buy you some."
The kid's face lit up instantly. "Really?"
"Get up," Laxyie said, already turning. "We'll ask Lyla if she wants to come too. She's downstairs."
Tyke scrambled to his feet, moving carefully but fast enough to show he wasn't going to miss this.
They found Lyla near the inn's common area, leaning against a pillar with a mug in her hand. She glanced up as they approached.
"You're walking,kid?" she said to Tyke.
"Barely," Tyke replied proudly.
She snorted. "How's the leg?"
"It's fine," he said, already distracted by the smell of food drifting in from outside.
Lyla followed his gaze and smiled. "Ah. That look. He's hungry."
"We're going to eat," Laxyie said. "You coming?"
Lyla didn't even pretend to think. "Absolutely."
They walked through Selam's streets together, lanterns glowing softly as the sun dipped low. Music spilled from open taverns, laughter echoing across bridges and stone paths. The city felt alive in a way Nursa never had.
They stopped at a waterfront tavern, wooden decks stretching out over the water. The scent of grilled fish and spiced broth hung heavy in the air.
Tyke stared at the menu like it was treasure.
"Eat as much as you want," Laxyie said, sitting down. "We got two thousand Lengers from the mission."
Tyke's jaw dropped. "That much?"
"Don't make me regret it," Laxyie added.
Food arrived quickly—platters of grilled river fish, shellfish stew, fried prawns,crabs, bread soaked in butter and herbs.
Tyke didn't wait.
He took one bite—and froze.
"…Oh."
Lyla laughed. "Good 'oh' or bad 'oh'?"
Tyke swallowed, eyes shining. "Very good 'oh.'"
Laxyie watched him eat, quietly amused despite himself.
For a while, no one spoke much. Just eating, listening to the tavern's noise, the clink of cups and distant music. It felt… normal.
Eventually, Laxyie broke the silence.
"Lyla."
She looked up. "Hm?"
"You mentioned classes before. Powers."
She leaned back slightly, considering. "What about them?"
"I need to get stronger," he said plainly. "If I'm going to defeat Aîiurh."
The name sat heavy between them.
Lyla's expression shifted—not fear, but seriousness. "I figured that was coming."
She took a sip of her drink. "I can't teach you everything. I only know my own path."
"Your class," Laxyie said.
She nodded. "Warrior. That's it."
"No magic?" Laxyie asked.
"No elements," she said. "What I use comes from discipline. Training. Will."
Tyke paused mid-bite, listening now.
"My power—Valor Manifest—it's not something you borrow," Lyla continued. "There's no outside source. No spell. No shortcut."
She tapped the table lightly. "Every bit of it comes from you. Your body. Your resolve. Your reason for standing back up when you should stay down."
Laxyie absorbed that quietly.
"So you can't teach me," he said.
She shook her head. "Not directly. But I can fight beside you. Push you. Make sure you don't die doing something stupid."
That earned a small smirk from him.
Tyke looked between them. "So… everyone's different?"
"Yes," Lyla said. "Very."
Tyke nodded slowly, then went back to eating.
Laxyie leaned back in his chair, watching the water ripple beneath the lantern light.
"I'm still weak," he said quietly.
Lyla didn't argue.
"That's not a bad thing," she said instead. "It just means you know where you stand."
She glanced at him. "And you're still standing."
Tyke raised his cup. "To seafood."
They both looked at him.
"…And not being babies," he added quickly.
Lyla laughed. Laxyie shook his head, but there was warmth in it.
For tonight, that was enough.
The world could wait.