The late afternoon sunlight poured through the window, casting soft golden hues across the wooden floorboards. The room smelled faintly of apples and old books.
Aria had drifted into a nap, her small form curled up with her stuffed doll beside her. A light snore puffed from her lips, and every now and then, she'd twitch, lost in some silly dream.
Tessa sat quietly at the small table, hands around a warm mug of herbal tea Marna had given her. Liora was sitting near the window, flipping through the guild quest book she'd brought back from the guild hall after their last quest.
The silence between them wasn't awkward. It was… comfortable.
Tessa found herself watching Liora.
There was a quiet strength to her, something steady and grounded. She didn't brag like the adventurers back in her old village, didn't bark orders, didn't act like she had something to prove. Liora simply was confident in her quiet way, capable without show, soft without weakness.
And then there was Aria.
Tessa hadn't realized how much she'd come to care about that little girl until she saw Aria burst out of the inn door yesterday, arms flung wide, calling out "Mommy!" with that big grin on her face.
The sound had made something warm and strange bloom in Tessa's chest.
She looked down into her tea and frowned at her own reflection.
A year ago, she thought, I was just surviving. Now…
Now she had somewhere to return to after a quest. People who noticed that she didn't come back. A shared meal. A soft bed. Laughter. She'd never had any of that before.
She wasn't just part of a party anymore.
She was part of a home.
Liora's voice broke her thoughts gently.
"I was thinking," she said, still scanning the flyer, "we'll need to take on a couple more well-paying quests soon. The herb jobs are steady, but not enough to get ahead."
Tessa nodded, clearing her throat. "Something tougher?"
"Likely," Liora replied, her eyes flicking toward her. "You up for it?"
Tessa met her gaze. "Yeah. I think I am."
Liora smiled slightly. "Good. I want us to get something solid done before the weather turns. Maybe one of those border-clearing patrols, or a supply escort. Something with a bonus attached."
She set the flyer down and leaned back in her chair, glancing toward Aria.
"Still… I'll have to be careful about the timing. Can't be gone too long."
Tessa looked at Aria, too. "She's strong. But she really loves you."
Liora's expression softened. "I know. I love her too. More than I expected."
Silence again, but deeper now. Tessa turned her mug in her hands, then said quietly:
"Thanks for letting me stay. For trusting me with both of you."
Liora raised an eyebrow. "You've earned that trust. More than once already."
Tessa looked down. "It's just… I never thought I'd have something like this. A… home."
Liora's voice was warm. "Neither did I, until I found Aria."
Then, with a small smirk, she added, "We're all strays here. That's what makes us fit."
Tessa laughed softly. "Yeah. Maybe that's what makes it feel right."
Outside, the village bell chimed six times. The sound drifted gently through the air like a lullaby.
In the quiet that followed, the two adventurers sat side by side, watching over a peacefully sleeping child and the fragile, beautiful peace they were building.