Silence

The three finally reached their little house just as the last streaks of daylight faded into a quiet indigo sky. The wooden door creaked softly when Lian pushed it open, and a rush of familiar scents — warm timber, faint herbs from Mira’s pouch, and the lingering smoke from their small hearth — welcomed them home. For a heartbeat, the air felt almost peaceful, as if the world outside and its impossible demands couldn’t reach this small sanctuary.

Kael stepped inside without a word. She crossed the room slowly, dropped onto the bench by the table, and stared at the floor as though her boots were suddenly fascinating. Her shoulders were tense, her usual restless energy drained away.

Lian and Mira traded a glance, silently debating who should try first. Lian shrugged and moved closer, planting himself in front of Kael with a wide, theatrical grin.

“Alright,” he began, hands on hips, “I’ve been thinking about how we’re going to deal with the Demon King. Hear me out: we challenge him to a drinking contest. He loses, we win, end of story.”

Kael didn’t even blink.

“Hmm. Okay, not your style.” Lian scratched the back of his neck, pretending to ponder. “What about a dance-off? I mean, I’ve got some moves that would terrify any monarch.” He did a strange little shuffle that made Mira snort despite herself.

But Kael remained unmoved, her expression a quiet mask.

Lian’s smile faltered. He was about to try another absurd idea, when Kael finally spoke.

“All my life…” Her voice was low, almost fragile, like a thread that might snap. “I never had anyone who truly stayed by my side.” She kept her gaze fixed on the table, fingers tracing small, hesitant circles across the worn wood. “Everyone knew where I came from, who my family was. They kept their distance, afraid that if they got too close, they’d get caught up in the Strom family’s problems.”

Mira leaned forward slightly, listening intently.

“And at home,” Kael continued, “there was always this… weight. Expectations pressing down on me, every single day. Be perfect, don’t make mistakes, remember who you represent. It never stopped.” She took a shaky breath. “That’s why I ran away. I thought if I could start somewhere new, if no one knew my name, maybe I could finally breathe.”

Her voice softened. “Then I met you two. You didn’t care about my past. You just… let me tag along. The way you live — no plans, no pressure — I loved it from the start. I wanted to stay in this little group we made. It felt… safe.”

Kael’s eyes darkened, regret swimming there. “The only thing I ever wanted was not to drag anyone else into my mess. And now, because of me, we’re supposed to fight the Demon King.” She gave a hollow laugh, without any mirth. “That’s not a goal for a few adventurers who barely scraped together enough coins to fix a leaky roof. It’s suicide. Our carefree days are over, and it’s my fault.”

She paused, voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve been thinking… maybe I should just go back to my family. Maybe that’s the only way to stop this from getting worse.”

Silence fell over the room, broken only by the faint crackle of embers in the hearth. Then Lian leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. The usual spark of mischief was gone from his face; in its place was a quiet determination.

“Kael,” he said firmly, “you’re not dragging us anywhere. Yeah, up until now we’ve been stumbling around, living one day at a time. But this thing Mael threw at us… it doesn’t just scare me. It makes me feel alive. Like, for once, I actually have a reason to call myself an adventurer instead of a guy tagging along for the free meals.”

Kael blinked, startled by the earnestness in his tone.

Mira added her voice, calm but steady. “I became an adventurer to do something meaningful. If helping you is what it takes, then I don’t care how dangerous the mission is. As long as we’re together, it’s worth it.”

Kael looked between them, her breath catching as their words sank in. The heaviness pressing down on her chest began to lift, just a little. Her hands, clenched tight moments before, loosened on the tabletop. Slowly, a small, shy smile broke through the haze of doubt.

Seeing that, Lian’s face lit up again, his trademark grin returning in full force. “There we go. That’s the Kael I know. Tomorrow,” he declared, pounding his fist lightly on the table, “we’ll start planning how to give that Demon King the beating of his life.”

Kael laughed softly — not much, but enough to remind her of the warmth she’d found with them. For the first time since stepping into Mael’s mansion, she felt something close to hope. Whatever the next six months would bring, at least she wouldn’t face them alone.