Two months and two weeks had passed since Alaric's departure.
Reports spoke of the Skyblade Knights' relentless advance and victories.
For Daphne, the days were a whirlwind of activities. She divided her time between the Thomas Manor and the Rose Home.
At the manor, Lianna's health had blossomed but it was at the Rose Home that Daphne found her true purpose.
The mansion now pulsed with life. The children's quarters were filled with the sound of laughter and lessons. The women were now a bustling community, learning to manage the kitchen, tend to the new farm, and weaving beautiful clothings.
Still, in the stillness of her matrimonial villa, the absence of Alaric was a constant source of ache.
The news from the front brought a deep sense of relief, but it only amplified her longing for him.
.....
The battle had been brutal. Mud-caked and weary, Alaric sat alone in his tent, the flickering lamplight casting long, dancing shadows on the walls.
