Sereth was already waiting when Ardis arrived.
Unlike Vaelor, he stood in the shade of a tall tree, reading a thin strip of bark covered in careful markings. His posture was relaxed, one shoulder resting lightly against the trunk.
When he noticed her approach, he rolled the bark neatly and tucked it into the leather pouch at his waist.
"Good morning," he said with a faint smile.
"Good morning," Ardis replied, returning the smile.
Sereth inclined his head politely.
"You look rested today."
Ardis brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Better than before."
Sereth gestured toward a smooth stone near the tree.
"Sit with me."
They settled across from each other.
Unlike her meeting with Vaelor, there was no stiffness here. The silence between them felt thoughtful rather than awkward, like both of them were simply considering where to begin.
Sereth studied her quietly.
"You observe people a lot," he said.
Ardis blinked. "Do I?"
"Yes," he replied calmly. "You listen more than you speak. You watch reactions before answering."
Ardis tilted her head slightly.
"Do I?" she asked again, amused.
Sereth's lips curved faintly.
"Well… you haven't talked much, nor have you initiated the conversation."
Ardis folded her hands in her lap.
"So what do you usually do?" she asked.
"I study territory patterns, conflicts, and resource movement," Sereth said. "Sometimes I advise the Snake Chief."
Ardis's eyes widened slightly.
"You help with tribe decisions?"
"When asked."
There was no pride in his tone—only quiet confidence.
A breeze moved through the trees, lifting the edge of Ardis's hair. Without thinking, Sereth reached out slightly, then stopped himself before his hand could touch the strand that had fallen across her face.
The movement was small, almost unconscious.
Ardis noticed.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
Sereth withdrew his hand calmly, as if the gesture had simply been a reflex.
Ardis looked away first, pretending to examine the ground, though a faint warmth crept up her neck.
After a moment, Sereth spoke again.
"You want to develop feelings before bonding."
It wasn't phrased as a question.
Ardis stiffened slightly.
"How do you know?"
Sereth rested his elbow on his knee thoughtfully.
"You looked for conversation first. Not strength. Not status."
Ardis said nothing.
Sereth continued gently,
"You are similar to Averin in that way."
That surprised her.
"Averin told me not to do that."
Sereth nodded.
"She is not wrong."
Ardis sighed quietly.
"You agree with her?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you here?"
Sereth's eyes softened slightly.
"Because understanding risk does not mean avoiding it."
That answer lingered between them.
Ardis looked at him more carefully now.
"You think too much," she said.
Sereth smiled.
"That is what keeps people alive."
They sat quietly for a moment before he spoke again.
"What do you fear most in choosing?"
Ardis thought for a long moment.
"Choosing wrong."
Sereth nodded slowly.
"A reasonable fear."
Then he added,
"The worst choice is not the weakest male."
Ardis looked up.
"It is the one you cannot understand."
She considered that carefully.
Sereth picked up a small twig and drew two lines in the dirt.
"Strength protects the body," he said.
Then he drew a third line connecting them.
"Understanding protects the future."
Ardis watched quietly.
After a moment, she leaned forward slightly, studying the simple drawing. Their hands rested close on the ground beside the lines, close enough that if either shifted slightly, they would touch.
Neither of them moved.
After a moment, she asked softly,
"And what would you offer?"
Sereth answered without hesitation.
"Stability."
Then more quietly:
"I do not act on impulse. I do not make reckless decisions."
He looked at her directly.
"And I would never make you face danger alone through foolishness."
That felt different from Vaelor's promise.
Vaelor promised to stand in front of danger.
Sereth promised to prevent danger from happening.
After a while, Sereth asked,
"What did you think of Vaelor?"
Ardis blinked in surprise.
"You're allowed to ask that?"
Sereth smiled slightly.
"I did not ask what you felt."
She hesitated.
"He is reliable."
Sereth nodded.
"That is accurate."
There was no jealousy.
Only analysis.
Then he added quietly,
"You need someone you can speak with."
Ardis looked at him.
Sereth met her gaze calmly.
"I believe that could be me."
There was no pressure in his voice.
Just quiet certainty.
For a brief moment, the thoughtful calm between them shifted into something softer, something neither of them commented on.
Soon, the meeting came to an end.
Sereth stood first and offered his hand to help her up.
Ardis hesitated only slightly before placing her hand in his.
His grip was steady and warm, pulling her easily to her feet.
Neither of them spoke about the moment.
But as Ardis walked away, she found herself glancing back once.
Sereth had already returned to the shade of the tree, unfolding his strip of bark again.
Yet when she turned, she noticed he wasn't reading.
He was watching her leave.
Averin approached with her usual relaxed smile, her steps unhurried as though the day had been perfectly ordinary.
"Let's go," she said lightly.
Ardis nodded and fell into step beside her.
For a short while, they walked in comfortable silence along the narrow forest path that led away from the meeting place. The evening breeze rustled softly through the leaves, carrying the faint scents of earth and distant cooking fires from the tribe.
After a moment, Averin glanced sideways at her.
"Had a nice conversation with him?" she asked, the corner of her lips lifting knowingly.
Ardis nodded.
"Yes."
It had been… easier than she expected. Talking with Sereth had felt calm rather than tense.
Averin hummed softly, clearly amused.
"And?" she prompted. "What do you think of him?"
Ardis thought for a moment as they continued walking.
"He can hold a conversation," she said simply.
Averin chuckled.
"That's already rare enough."
Ardis looked at her aunt, curious about her reaction.
Averin tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful now.
"I heard everything," she said casually.
Ardis blinked in surprise.
"You did?"
Averin only smiled, completely unapologetic.
"He said he could prevent danger," she continued. "But can anyone really predict where danger will come from?"
Her tone wasn't mocking, just reflective.
Ardis fell quiet at that.
The forest path curved gently ahead of them, sunlight filtering through the tall trees in golden patches.
Averin continued after a moment.
"To be honest, most females don't think this much."
Ardis glanced at her.
"Usually, everyone simply accepts the male their parents choose," Averin said with a small shrug.
It was true. That had always been the tradition among the tribes.
Strong males were chosen. Families agreed. Bonds were formed.
Simple.
Ardis hesitated before asking the question that had been on her mind.
"I heard you didn't do that, Aunt."
Averin laughed softly.
"Well…"
She lifted a hand dramatically as if recalling an old story.
"What can I say?"
She slipped her arm around Maelor's as they walked, leaning against him comfortably.
"I like good-looking beastmen," she declared with complete seriousness.
Maelor looked down at her with quiet amusement but said nothing.
"And powerful ones," Averin added.
She gave a small shrug.
"So without looking at anyone else, I went straight with Maelor."
She smiled brightly, clearly pleased with her past decision.
Ardis looked between them.
Now that she thought about it… It made sense.
Her aunt really did have a preference for handsome men.
She nodded slowly in understanding.
Averin noticed the look on her face and laughed again.
"Don't look so serious," she said. "Choosing a partner isn't a battle plan."
Ardis smiled faintly.
The tribe soon came into view between the trees. Smoke curled gently into the sky from cooking fires, and the familiar sounds of voices and movement filled the air.
Before long, they arrived outside Sissira's hut.
Averin stopped at the entrance.
"Well," she said lightly, releasing Maelor's arm, "this is your stop."
Ardis nodded.
"Thank you, Aunt."
Averin reached out and briefly squeezed her shoulder.
"Think slowly," she said. "You still have time."
Then she turned, already walking away with Maelor at her side, her laughter drifting back along the path as they headed toward their own dwelling.
Ardis watched them go for a moment before turning toward the hut and stepping inside.