**********

Thanks for the Golden ticket, The_Monk_21. Your support is much appreciated.

***********

The cold wind bit into my skin as I walked toward the cave’s exit.

Rune and Sera were already there, talking with the orc guards who stood watch.

Their breath fogged in the dim light leaking through the tunnel. I slowed down a little, staring at them.

A knot sat heavy in my chest, refusing to loosen no matter how many tears I had already shed.

I sighed, the sound leaving me like a quiet surrender.

"You seem to be in trouble," a voice came from beside me.

Merin.

Her eyes were covered with a strip of cloth, and her hands were bound in front of her. I held the chain connected to the collar around her neck.

Even blindfolded, she somehow managed to sound smug.

"None of your business," I said sharply, tugging the chain to make her move.

"Don’t be so rough~," she said in that same teasing tone.

It’s been a week since we captured her. Every day since then, I had gone into her chamber to question her, and torture her.

She’d flinch the moment the door opened, but when she realized it was me, she’d always... relax. Even smile. I couldn’t tell if it was relief or something else. Maybe both.

She was unnaturally tolerant to pain. But then again, she used to be an inquisitor, torturing people was her job.

"By the way, where are we going in this chilling breeze?" she asked, her voice light even though her breath trembled. The thin cloth she wore barely covered her. With her powers sealed, she was no more than an ordinary woman now.

"Just walk," I said, keeping my voice flat.

The chain jingled as she followed.

"I’m glad this is the last time I’ll be seeing you," I muttered under my breath.

After today, everything changes. We’ll be splitting up.

Commander Tugnier planned for Rune, Sera, and Merin to move west, farther away from the cave, away from us.. while the rest of us move east in small batches.

It’s safer that way.

Still... my chest tightened again. This would be the last time I’d see him. I blinked hard, feeling my eyes sting.

"Tsk," I clicked my tongue, tilting my head up to stop the tears. "I just cried already... why again?"

"What do you mean last time?" Merin asked suddenly, her tone shifting. "Where am I going?"

I sighed, keeping my eyes forward. "You’ll be taken away by the guy who asked you the questions."

The chain went stiff in my hand. Her whole body froze.

"No... no, not him..." she whispered. The calm in her voice vanished. Her breathing quickened, shaky and uneven.

Then she started shaking her head, muttering, "No, no..." over and over until her voice broke into a desperate shout. "No!"

Before I could react, she yanked back against the chain, trying to pull away.

"Stop it," I warned, but she didn’t listen.

I pulled hard, stepping forward and driving my knee into her as she charged toward me.

"Ahck!" she gasped as the air left her lungs and she fell to her knees.

Still, she clung to my leg, refusing to let go.

"No! Please! Don’t take me to him! Please!" she cried, her voice cracking, full of something between fear and panic.

I stared down at her, caught between confusion and annoyance.

Why is she acting like this? Shouldn’t she be glad to get away from me? What did Rune even do to her?

I clenched my jaw and lifted my knee again, this time striking her across the face.

Her body flew sideways and hit the ground hard. The sound echoed faintly through the tunnel. She didn’t move again.

"Great..." I muttered, crouching beside her. "Now I have to carry you."

I hooked my arms under her and lifted her over my shoulder. She was lighter than she looked.

Her hair brushed against my back, and her shallow breathing brushed my neck.

I adjusted my grip and started walking toward the exit where Rune was waiting.

"Umm... that’s one way to bring a prisoner," Rune said as soon as he saw me walking up.

Merin hung limply over my shoulder, her chains clinking softly with each step I took. Her hair was a tangled mess, her body cold from the night air.

I didn’t bother answering right away; I just wanted to hand her off and be done.

"She refused to behave," I said flatly, keeping my tone firm so he wouldn’t hear the heaviness sitting in my chest.

Sera stood beside him, her slim frame half hidden behind his arm. She was rubbing her eyes with both hands, her hair sticking out in every direction, still sleepy, clearly.

Rune must have dragged her out of bed without warning.

I couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at my lips when I saw her bedhead.

Even in the middle of all this, she looked... soft.

She gets to spend all her time with Rune after all..

Wait.. what am I thinking?

Then Rune stepped closer. Too close. The warmth of his presence made my breath hitch before I could stop it.

Without saying a word, he gently lifted Merin from my shoulder. She slumped over his instead, lifeless like a sack of grain.

The weight on my shoulder disappeared, but so did the little strength I had left.

"Well, Lydia," Rune said as he adjusted his hold on Merin. "Thanks for everything."

I kept my head down, staring at the ground. My hands felt cold. My throat tightened.

"I’ll be taking my leave," he added.

That was it. Just like that.

I wanted to answer, to say something simple like "safe travels"... but nothing came out.

I bit my lip hard, trying to stop the sting in my eyes. But it was no use. The tears came anyway, falling silently to the dirt.

Shit... not now.

Not in front of him.

Stop it, stop it, stop it.

I cursed in my head as I tried to steady my breathing.

But more tears came, slipping down my cheeks and landing in little dark spots on the ground.

"Lydia?" Rune’s voice softened.

I didn’t respond. If I spoke now, he’d hear it. He’d know.

He took a step closer and bent a little, trying to catch my eyes. I turned my face away quickly.

"Are you... crying?" he asked, his voice a mix of surprise and concern.

Damn it, Rune. Why couldn’t you just walk away quietly?

I shook my head, still refusing to look at him. I could feel my chest rising and falling too quickly, the tears refusing to stop no matter how hard I fought.

He sighed softly.

"Come on," he said, his tone gentle now. "This isn’t the last time we’ll see each other."

I didn’t move.

"I’ll be visiting the Beast Kingdom often. Got plenty of work with your Beast King anyway." He smiled faintly. "So cheer up!"

Then he placed a hand on my shoulder, warm, steady, and grounding.

That single touch broke whatever wall I had left.

My knees wobbled, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek just to keep from sobbing out loud.

I forced myself to lift my head. My vision was blurry, the world hazy through my tears. I nodded weakly, trying to hold myself together.

Rune’s lips curled into that soft, reassuring smile, the kind that made people trust him instantly, the kind that always made me feel safe around him.

"Take care," he said, giving my shoulder a gentle tap before straightening up again.

"You too," I managed to whisper, my voice trembling.

The words I actually wanted to say stayed buried in my chest.

Don’t go.

Take me with you.

But I couldn’t. That would’ve been selfish. Commander Tugnier and Quinn still needed me here. The Kingdom needed me. Rune had his own path.

"I will never forget you," the words escaped my mouth before I could stop them.

Rune froze for a second, his expression unreadable.

Then a faint grin appeared on his lips.

"And I’ll make sure you never do," he said softly.

I blinked, confused. What did that mean?

Before I could ask, he lifted his hand and waved, not at me, but toward Commander Tugnier’s quarters behind me. Then he looked back one last time.

"Sera, let’s go," he said. "We’ll be back before you know it."

And with that, they started walking. Rune in front, Sera following close behind, still rubbing her sleepy eyes.

Their silhouettes grew smaller with every step, swallowed slowly by the darkness of the night.

And I... I just stood there.

The sound of their footsteps faded. The only thing left was the cold wind brushing against my face and the faint crackle of torches at the gate.

Then the ache in my chest finally split open. My knees gave out, and I fell to the ground, gasping as the tears I’d been holding back came pouring out.

"Ha... ha..." my breaths came in broken gasps as I pressed my hands to the dirt, my tears darkening it beneath my palms.

The orcs on night watch turned their heads, confused.

One of them even took a step forward as if to ask what was wrong, but then stopped, unsure.

I wiped my face quickly, forcing myself to stand again. My whole body trembled. My hands felt weak.

I looked at the darkness where Rune and Sera had disappeared. Nothing. Not a single trace left.

The night was completely still, the kind of stillness that made your heart hurt.

I stood there, staring into that empty path, my chest tightening more with each second that passed.

Maybe he’ll turn back, I thought. Maybe he’ll say he forgot something, or that he changed his mind. Maybe...

But he didn’t.

He kept walking. And soon, even the faintest sound of his boots was gone.

I rubbed at my eyes again, trying to clear the blur. My fingers came away wet and cold.

I wanted to hate him for leaving. But I couldn’t. How could I, when all he ever did was help us?

My heart whispered the same foolish thought again. Maybe he’ll come back.

Even though I knew he wouldn’t.

Still, I stood there long after he was gone. The cold wind bit against my skin, but I didn’t move.

... I couldn’t stop waiting.

Because a small, quiet part of me, the part that refused to let go, still believed that he might...

...He might still come back.