Night had fallen over Vailor like a calm veil, spreading a gentle breeze that carried the distant scent of the festival bonfires, which still hadn't been completely dismantled. After several days of missions, confusion, and overdue bills, the group had finally received a simple shift: guarding the city's North Post, a small wooden fort that rarely faced any real danger. In practice, it was a night of rest disguised as duty.
Takumi was the first to reach the top of the watchtower. The guard responsible for handing it over seemed relieved to see them.
"Good luck up there. If you hear any strange noises, it's probably just a deer. Or a drunk heading home."
Takumi laughed. "Got it. We'll handle it."
Elara arrived shortly after, climbing the steps with a heavy sigh.
"I swear, if I climb one more staircase like this, I'll pass out. My mana still hasn't properly recovered."
"You said that yesterday too."
"I say it every day, Takumi. Because it's true."
Vespera appeared last, out of breath, holding the bow she missed with more often than she hit, yet still looking proud.
"All right. I'm here. And this time I didn't forget anything."
Takumi looked at her quiver. "Did you bring arrows?"
Silence.
Vespera froze.
"I… I'll be right back."
Elara put a hand to her face and murmured a silent prayer that Vespera would someday stop being so very Vespera.
When everyone finally settled into the tower, the night was already dark and filled with stars. It was one of those rare moments when there was no urgency, no chaos, no unexpected monsters bursting out of the ground. Just the soft sound of the wind and the calm breathing of the three of them.
Takumi rested his arms on the wooden railing, watching the tree line to the north.
"It's been a while since we just… stood still like this."
"It's strange," Elara admitted. "But good. I think."
"I like it," Vespera said, sitting on the floor and leaning her back against the tower wall. "No one's trying to kill me, and I don't have to shoot at anything. This night is wonderful."
A comfortable silence followed, each of them enjoying the peace in their own way.
After a few minutes, Elara broke the silence.
"Takumi. Can I ask you something?"
"You can."
"Are you… okay? After everything in the Labyrinth City. You didn't talk much about how you felt there."
Takumi stayed quiet for a few seconds. The wind stirred his hair as he kept his eyes on the horizon.
"I'm trying to be okay. It was… a lot. But I think coming back here helped."
"Yeah. Vailor has that effect," Elara replied with a small smile. "I feel calmer here too."
Vespera raised her hand.
"I don't feel calm at all. I feel hungry. We should've brought food."
Elara looked at her with a neutral expression.
"You ate three times before leaving the guild."
"I feel emotional hunger, Elara."
Takumi started laughing, and within seconds the three of them were laughing together. It was a light, genuine laughter that lifted the weight of the last arcs from their shoulders.
The night continued peacefully. At one point, Elara sat down beside Takumi.
"You know… when you were with Rai'kanna, back in the Labyrinth City… you seemed different."
"Different how?"
"I don't know. More relaxed. Or maybe less aware of danger. She makes you feel comfortable."
"Rai'kanna is… she has a strong presence. But that doesn't change anything with you. You're my group. My home now."
Elara looked away, clearly trying to hide the blush on her face.
"Idiot."
Vespera heard that from afar.
"Elara, you're red. Or is your mana running out again?"
"Shut up, Vespera!"
Takumi laughed once more.
Some time later, Vespera stood up and walked to the edge of the tower.
"You know… I've never stopped to look at the stars from here. They're beautiful."
"You never look because you're always sleeping during watch," Elara shot back.
"Lies! Only sometimes. And only when I'm tired. Or hungry."
"So… always."
"Yeah, maybe."
The conversation shifted to silly stories, like the time Vespera missed an arrow so badly that it hit the guild's own roof; or the time Elara tried to use a simple spell to light a campfire and ended up burning the entire lunch; or when Liriel tried to bless the group and produced nothing more than a small, useless glow.
The early morning passed like this: amid laughter, light teasing, and small confessions that only surface when the world seems to finally breathe in peace.
Takumi tilted his head back and closed his eyes for a moment.
"I like this. Our calm. This kind of night."
Elara smiled.
"So do I. Even knowing that tomorrow we'll probably have another debt to pay."
"Or another mission that's going to go wrong!" Vespera added, far too excited for someone who could barely hit a target.
"You don't have to say that like you're proud of it," Elara grumbled.
"I'm not. I just accepted it."
Takumi opened his eyes and looked at the two of them.
"Regardless of what comes tomorrow… I'm glad we're together right now."
Elara lowered her gaze, Vespera flashed a smile that was far too wide, and a gentle silence settled over the tower once more—not uncomfortable, but warm.
Minutes later, Elara yawned.
"Your real shift starts now, Takumi. I'm going to nap a bit."
"Me too," Vespera said, already throwing herself into a corner with a blanket. "If something happens, wake me up. Or don't. Actually, only wake me up if we're dying."
"Got it," Takumi replied dryly.
Elara lay down near the door, using her folded cloak as a pillow.
"Don't let anything catch fire."
"I won't."
"And don't let anything explode."
"I won't either."
"And don't let Vespera fall off the tower."
"Elara, everything is under control."
She closed her eyes with a satisfied sigh.
Within minutes, both of them were asleep. Takumi was left alone with the night, the stars, and his own silence. He took a deep breath, hearing only the wind moving through the leaves and the distant sound of some nocturnal animal.
For a moment, Takumi felt that everything was exactly where it should be.
And on that calm night at the Watch Post, without monsters, without chaos, and without living labyrinths, he finally truly rested.