Chapter 48 – A Morning More at Ease
The first rays of sunlight slipped through the shutters, painting faint golden stripes across the floorboards. Ethan stretched as he stepped out of his room, rolling the stiffness from his shoulders. His gaze drifted toward the door across the hall.
Still closed.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. She must still be sleeping. Yesterday must've worn her out… the unsealing, the tears…
From the kitchen came the soft, rhythmic clatter of knives against wood and the hiss of something frying in oil. Amelia looked up from her work as Ethan passed by, strands of her chestnut hair tucked behind her ears.
"Good morning," she said warmly.
"Morning," Ethan replied, giving her a nod before heading toward the bath.
The steam and warm water washed away the last remnants of sleep, leaving him refreshed. When he returned, Mary was already awake and darted into his arms with a giggle. He scooped her up easily, spinning her once until her laughter rang out, bright and clear. They played for a while, her small hands tugging at his hair and cheeks, until the soft shuffle of footsteps caught his attention.
Lirael emerged from the corridor.
She had changed into a fresh dress, her silvery hair hidden once more by the faint shimmer of her cracked amulet. It dulled the truth—muting her ears, tinting her hair a lighter shade—but it no longer held the flawless illusion it once had. Still, she wore it. A faint blush colored her cheeks when her eyes fell on Ethan.
For an instant, she faltered. Her hand brushed against her chest as if to steady herself. Then, with surprising composure, she lowered her gaze and approached the table.
"Good morning," she said softly, her voice carefully even.
"Morning," Amelia returned brightly.
"Good morning, big sister!" Mary chimed. Ethan only gave her a small nod and smile, before setting Mary down.
They all gathered at the table. The air carried the comforting scent of roasted bread, fresh herbs, and eggs simmered with onions.
Then Mary, unable to contain her curiosity, leaned forward on her elbows and studied Lirael with narrowed eyes.
"You look really happy today," she declared suddenly. "And more comfortable! Your face looks all healthy again. Did something good happen?"
The words struck Lirael like an arrow. She nearly choked on her bite, her cheeks flaring crimson.
"N-No, it's not like that!" she stammered, hands fluttering as if to wave away the accusation.
Amelia chuckled softly, hiding her smile behind her hand. "Well, it does suit you. Whatever the reason, it's nice to see you at ease."
"That's not—!" Lirael protested, but her voice came out too flustered to sound convincing.
Mary only tilted her head, grinning mischievously, while Ethan continued eating quietly. From time to time, he glanced at Lirael's flushed face, his lips curving with the faintest of smiles.
The truth was simple. For the first time in years, the crushing weight on her soul was gone. The forced use to her talent had been cut, and the constant strain had lifted. She felt lighter, freer and stronger. Even her body seemed to hum faintly with renewed energy, as though the world itself had grown less hostile overnight.
She lowered her gaze to her plate, but couldn't keep the small, genuine smile from blooming on her lips.
---
After breakfast, the warmth of the household lingered like the scent of fresh bread. But Ethan set his cup down with a faint clink and looked toward Amelia.
"I'll be leaving soon," he said simply. "My next destination is Iridale Kingdom."
The words were calm, matter-of-fact—but they carried weight. Amelia's hands paused on the plates she was gathering, her eyes softening with quiet understanding. Before she could reply, a small voice cut in.
"You're… leaving?"
Mary had heard. She sat stiffly in her chair, her little fingers tightening around the hem of her dress. For all her cheer, her eyes glistened faintly, betraying the sadness she had been bracing herself for.
Ethan sighed softly and walked over. Resting a large hand on her head, he ruffled her hair until it turned into a wild mess.
"I'll come back to visit," he said gently. "Iridale isn't too far from here."
Mary's lips trembled. She looked up at him with wide eyes. "Really? You're not just saying that?"
"Promise," Ethan said with a firm nod.
"…Promise?"
"Promise."
The word sealed it. Her expression brightened instantly, all the gloom scattered away like clouds before the sun. Beaming, she wrapped her arms around his waist for a brief hug before darting off toward Lirael's side, her laughter trailing behind her.
Amelia, meanwhile, let out a quiet exhale, smiling faintly. "Don't worry about us," she said. "I've secured a place in the tavern down the street. The owner's a good man. We'll manage."
Ethan gave a satisfied nod. With that, his concerns eased.
---
Later that morning, Ethan and Lirael made their way to the guild. The marble-floored hall buzzed with adventurers coming and going, but when they reached the counter, the receptionist recognized them immediately. She checked their IDs with practiced efficiency before bowing with noticeable respect.
"Congratulations on your return. This is your reward." She slid forward a neatly stacked pouch, the coins clinking inside.
Ethan opened it and raised a brow. "Sixteen gold, fifty-nine silver, thirty-six bronze? This much?"
The receptionist gave a small, knowing smile. "The extra is for your performance during the raid. Both of you exceeded expectations."
Ethan accepted the pouch, tucking it away with a short nod.
"Understood."
They stepped out into the bustling street, the sun climbing higher overhead. For a moment, the sounds of the city washed over them—merchants calling out, the creak of wagon wheels, the chatter of adventurers trading tales of the raid.
Ethan glanced sideways. "Where to next?"
Lirael hesitated before answering, her gaze softening. "Since I'll be traveling with you from now on… I should say my goodbyes. Aina and Maya deserve that much."
He nodded. "Alright. I've got some business to take care of myself. I'll meet you at Amelia's by evening."
"Okay." She smiled faintly, then turned and walked down the street, her figure soon lost in the crowd.
Ethan remained where he was for a moment, his expression hardening slightly. There was no time to waste.
Now came his most important task yet—
his class assignment quest.
---
The inn's courtyard was quiet, shaded by a few tall trees that let dappled sunlight spill across the benches. The sound of mugs clinking faintly mingled with the hum of distant traffic.
Sure enough, Aina and Maya were there, seated side by side on a wooden bench, sipping from their mugs. Their voices carried with the easy rhythm of old friends sharing small talk.
Lirael slowed as she approached. But before she could call out, Aina's eyes flicked up—and a mischievous smile instantly tugged at her lips.
"Well, well," Aina drawled loudly, leaning back with exaggerated leisure. "Look what we have here. A shameless woman who abandons her friends the moment she finds a man."
Maya turned her head at once, and her eyes lit up when she saw Lirael. Relief and happiness softened her features, her smile wide and genuine. "Lirael! You're safe…"
But Aina wasn't about to let her off. She leaned forward with mock seriousness, narrowing her eyes.
"So? Tell us. How was it, hm? You disappear for the night, and now look at you—cheeks all rosy, lips smiling without reason… clearly something happened."
"What are you even saying?" Lirael huffed, flustered. "It just got late, so I stayed where he was staying."
Aina's grin widened instantly. "Ohhh? Stayed with him, did you?" She tapped her chin thoughtfully, her tone dripping with mischief. "So, tell me—did you share a bed? Or maybe…" she wiggled her brows, "…something more?"
Lirael's face flared crimson, her hands flying up. "N-No! Nothing like that! Don't twist it! There was even a child in the house—Amelia's daughter. Really, nothing happened!"
"Mm-hmm," Aina said in a way that made it clear she didn't believe a word. "Your face says otherwise. Look at you—you can't even look me in the eye."
Maya, curious now, tilted her head and studied Lirael closely. "Actually… you do seem different. Your skin looks brighter, your eyes less heavy… and you look… happier."
"I—I…" Lirael sputtered, utterly caught off guard.
Aina leaned closer, resting her elbow on Maya's shoulder for balance, smirking like a cat playing with its prey. "Spit it out already. Did he hold your hand? Whisper sweet words? Or—" she gasped dramatically, "—did you guys—"
The memory of last night's warmth, Ethan's arms around her trembling body, flashed across Lirael's mind. Her breath caught, and she quickly averted her gaze, cheeks deepening to a bright scarlet.
That was all the confirmation Aina needed. She smacked her knee and burst into laughter. "Hah! I knew it! That face says everything! Our Lirael has finally been swept off her feet!"
Maya giggled too, though more gently. "Aina, stop teasing her so much. It's not fair."
"Fair? This is payback for all those times she lectured us like a big sister about manners and what not" Aina shot back, grinning wickedly. "Besides, it's not every day you see the great Lirael blushing like a maiden."
Lirael buried her face in her hands with a groan. "You're insufferable…"
But despite her embarrassment, there was a lightness in her heart she hadn't felt in years. Her friends' laughter, their warmth, the teasing that stung yet comforted—everything reminded her that she wasn't alone anymore.
And when she finally peeked out from between her fingers, her lips curved into a smile she couldn't quite hide.
As the laughter finally died down, Maya's smile softened. She reached out, lightly touching Lirael's hand.
"Still… even if you're leaving with him, don't forget us, alright?"
Lirael's breath caught. She met Maya's steady gaze, then Aina's playful but affectionate smirk, and nodded firmly.
"Never. You two are too important to me."
Maya's expression brightened, and Aina gave a satisfied nod as if that was the answer she'd been expecting all along.
For a moment, the three of them sat together in the sunlight, the bond between them as strong as ever.