The first light of dawn filtered through the windows of the Bellet estate, painting the floor in soft gold and violet hues. Birds chirped outside, oblivious to the tension and excitement that hung in the air. Ashura adjusted his coat one last time, the faint crackle of amethyst lightning tracing the seams, and made his way to a small carriage waiting outside.
But before he left, there was one stop he couldn't skip.
The carriage took him to Lyanna's estate, a modest but elegant home on the edge of the city. Even from the street, he could see her standing in the courtyard, arms crossed and a smirk teasing the corners of her mouth.
"Finally decided to visit before disappearing north, huh?" she called, her voice light but pointed.
Ashura hopped from the carriage, brushing dust off his boots with his usual smirk. "If I don't see you, you'll just call me reckless and leave me to my own devices anyway."
Lyanna tilted her head, pretending to look unimpressed. "And you'd be fine with that?"
He chuckled, stepping closer. "Of course not. You know me too well."
Her smirk softened into a small, genuine smile. "Fine. I'll take the thirty to sixty minutes you can spare, but no excuses after that."
Ashura held the door for her as she led him into the garden. They walked along the winding paths, morning dew brushing against their shoes, the air fragrant with flowering vines.
"So…" Lyanna said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "you're really leaving for the north? Solo?"
He nodded, hands in his pockets, casual as ever but with that spark of arrogance only he could pull off. "Solo. If anyone wants to tag along, they'll have to survive me first."
Her laugh was soft, teasing, but held a warmth that caught him off guard. "I'd be tempted… but I think I'd be in trouble trying to keep up with you."
Ashura smirked. "If you want to see it that bad, I guess I'll show you. But don't come crying when I beat you."
Lyanna's eyes glittered, a mix of challenge and amusement. "Oh, I'd like to see you try. But just so you know… I won't lose."
He leaned back slightly, mock exasperation in his tone. "Hmph. Bold words for someone so small."
"Small? I'd like to see you try saying that to my sword." She gestured to a polished rapier leaning against the wall of the gazebo.
Ashura laughed, shaking his head. "Touché."
They wandered the garden, sharing stories of absurd missions, teasing each other, and stealing glances under the early sun. Lyanna caught his sleeve at one point, holding his arm lightly.
"You'll come back, right?" she asked quietly, not looking at him.
Ashura's smirk softened into something almost rare—gentle, protective. "Of course. But for now… I have to see what the north has in store. Don't worry. I'll be back before you even notice I'm gone."
She finally looked up, her smile playful but tinged with worry. "You better."
He laughed, pulling her into a brief, familiar hug, careful not to linger too long but enough to convey that warmth. "I always do."
As the minutes slipped by, they found themselves simply standing together in the quiet of the garden, their words dwindling into comfortable silence. Ashura could feel the energy she radiated, calm yet sharp, and he felt his pulse pick up slightly, though he would never admit it aloud.
Finally, the sun climbed higher, and he knew it was time.
"Alright," he said, stepping back with a dramatic flourish of his coat, the faint amethyst spark trailing behind him. "The north won't wait, and neither will I."
Lyanna smirked, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Don't get yourself killed. And Ashura… try not to make me wait too long for stories when you get back."
He bowed slightly, mockingly formal. "Yes, my lady. I shall return with tales of glory, blood, and perhaps a few enemies squashed under my boots."
Her laughter followed him to the carriage. As it rolled away, she watched him disappear into the morning haze, shaking her head but smiling all the same.
Ashura, seated in the carriage, looked out at the horizon. The northern continent loomed ahead in his mind's eye — untamed, brutal, and filled with unknown dangers. And yet, he couldn't help the small grin that tugged at his lips.
Adventure, danger, and even the promise of vengeance awaited.
And he would face it all — alone, unapologetically, and with that same smirk.