Ren stood at the edge of the village as the sun dipped low.
The road stretched ahead of him — narrow, dusty, familiar… and suddenly immense.He had walked it before to hunt, to trade, to help neighboring settlements.
But never like this.
This time, the road meant something.
Lyra stood beside him, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the horizon as if daring it to take Ren from her.
Borin leaned against the gatepost, massive arms folded, expression unreadable.
Draven sat on the ground behind them, tying and untying the same knot over and over.
No one spoke for a long time.
The village behind them was quiet — not fearful now, but watchful.People peeked from windows.Children lingered near doorways.
Ren inhaled slowly.
The echo inside him was calm.
Not silent.
Present.
"I won't go far," Ren said at last.
Lyra snorted softly.
"That's a lie."
He smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
She turned to him.
"You're thinking about leaving."
"I'm thinking about preparing," he corrected."Learning. Training. Understanding what's coming before it reaches us."
Borin nodded once.
"Smart."
Draven looked up sharply.
"WAIT. You're not leaving-leaving, right? Like—forever leaving?"
Ren crouched in front of him.
"No. Not forever."
Draven narrowed his eyes.
"Temporary leaving?"
"Yes."
Draven considered this.
"…I hate temporary leaving."
Ren laughed quietly.
"I know."
He stood and looked at the village again.
"This place raised me," he said softly."It gave me people worth protecting."
The echo pulsed faintly — resonant, reflective.
"But staying still won't protect it," Ren continued."If the world is moving, I need to move with it."
Lyra stepped closer.
"And you think moving means walking away from us?"
Ren shook his head.
"No."
He met her eyes.
"It means making sure when I walk back… I'm strong enough to stand between this place and whatever comes for it."
Lyra's breath caught.
She reached out and grabbed the front of his shirt.
"You don't get to do this alone," she said fiercely."Not now. Not ever."
Ren gently placed his hands over hers.
"I know."
She searched his face.
"…Then say it."
He swallowed.
"Come with me."
Silence fell like thunder.
Borin's brow rose.
Draven's jaw dropped.
Lyra froze.
"Say that again," she whispered.
"Not today," Ren said quickly."Not tomorrow."
Relief flickered — then confusion.
"But when the time comes," he said, voice steady,"I don't want to walk into the world without you."
Lyra's grip tightened.
"Ren…"
He leaned closer.
"I don't know what I'll become," he admitted."I don't know what the echo will turn into."
The echo pulsed — attentive.
"But I know who I want beside me."
Lyra's eyes burned.
She pulled him forward and pressed her forehead to his.
"Then don't you dare disappear on me."
"I won't."
She kissed him.
Soft.Brief.Uncertain.
But real.
Borin cleared his throat loudly.
"Enough. You're both too young to be that dramatic."
Draven covered his eyes.
"I SAW EVERYTHING."
Lyra laughed shakily.
Ren laughed with her.
For a moment — just a moment — things felt normal.
Then the echo pulsed again.
Stronger.
Not fearful.
Not hiding.
Ready.
Ren straightened.
"I'll start with the nearby roads," he said."Listen. Learn. See who's watching."
Borin nodded.
"I'll prepare supplies."
Lyra tightened her bowstring.
"And I'll make sure nothing follows you back."
Draven sighed dramatically.
"And I'll… emotionally support everyone."
Ren smiled.
This wasn't goodbye.
Not yet.
But it was a step.
The first step away from childhood.From safety.From ignorance.
Ren took one foot onto the road.
The echo moved with him.
And the world —
Finally —
Opened its eyes.