[Leif’s POV—ThorenVald Estate—Continuation]

Thalein kept talking. Alvar kept listening. And I... kept standing there like a ghost someone forgot to exorcise.

"...and if we infuse the Trivium core stone—"

"That will stabilize the black wood?" Alvar finished calmly.

"Yes!! Exactly—how did you know—"

Their voices blurred together. Because right now, standing beside them, smiling like I belonged... I had never felt more like an outsider in my own life.

Thalein clapped his hands suddenly. "Oh! And by the way—you two are getting married next week! Congratulations!!"

My breath stalled.

Alvar froze.

Thalein didn’t notice the shift. He beamed brightly. I curled my lips into something that vaguely resembled a smile. "Thank you..."

It felt like lying with my own teeth.

I held out my hand. "Let me inspect the wood. And... I’d like more information about it."

"Of course!" Thalein chirped, handing it over. "I can send a sample to the elf village for research if you want!"

I nodded weakly. "Thank you."

He trotted away happily, humming to himself—blissfully unaware that he’d just dropped our future like a bomb between us.

Leaving me and Alvar alone.

The silence slithered between us—cold, jagged, and sharp. Alvar turned to leave. Panic flared in my chest.

"So..." I said quietly. "You decided to end this?"

He didn’t turn around. He stopped mid-step. Shoulders stiffening. Breath catching—just once.

Then—

"This is good for both of us, Leif."

My heart clenched so violently it felt like someone had grabbed it and squeezed.

Good? Good for whom?

I swallowed hard, voice trembling. "And... wh-what about our marriage?"

A long silence. Then he spoke, low and painfully steady.

"I will find a way to stop it."

The words hit harder than anything Grandma God could’ve thrown at me. Like a blade sliding between my ribs. He didn’t look back. He didn’t let me see his face. He didn’t let me see if he was hurting too.

He just walked.

Step by step. Farther. Further. Away.

I stood there, gripping the omen wood so tightly the edges dug into my skin.

"I..." My voice cracked, barely a whisper. "I see."

But I didn’t.

I didn’t see anything at all. Not the hallway. Not the future. Not even myself. All I saw was his back getting smaller. All I felt was something inside me collapsing.

Quietly.

Completely.

And I stood there long after he disappeared around the corner. Still holding the wood. Still holding the pain. Still holding onto him—

Even as he let go of me first.

***

[Outside the ThorenVald Estate—Night]

TA-DA!!!

"...Aha. Found you."

I crouched beneath the low branches, reaching out gently toward the tiny crimson pup trying (and failing) to hide behind her mother and siblings.

He blinked up at me with wide ruby eyes—round, curious, innocent. A newborn. The smallest one of the litter.

"You," I said softly, scooping him up, "are terrible at hiding, little guy."

The pup made a tiny growl sound—more squeak than growl—and wriggled into my arms.

I looked toward his mother—a majestic red wolf with glowing red markings who watched me with calm, intelligent eyes. She nudged my knee once, soft and approving.

"...Can I take him with me tonight?" I asked quietly.

She nudged me again. Firmer this time. Relief shimmered in her eyes, as if she was grateful someone would hold her smallest pup close for the night.

I gently stroked her head. "Thank you. I’ll take care of him."

She huffed softly and curled around her other pups.

I held the little crimson fluff against my chest. "Come on, little one. Let’s... keep each other company tonight."

The pup licked my cheek—warm, tiny, comforting.

A sound so small shouldn’t have eased the ache in my chest... but it did. He nestled deeper into my arms, already falling asleep.

"Yeah," I whispered, voice cracking just a little. "Let’s sleep together today, baby. I... I won’t feel alone that way."

The pup made a soft rumble, almost purring.

Then—

"Master!"

I blinked and turned just in time for Zephyy to leap from a tree branch straight onto my shoulder.

"Master, Master, Master—! I missed you!" he chirped, rubbing his tiny head against my cheek like an affectionate comet.

I let out a surprised laugh. "What—? I thought you’d stay with Nick and Alina for a little while longer."

Zephyy puffed up immediately, affronted. "Yes, but we are bonded! Bonded! I cannot be separated from you for long or my heart shrivels like a sad raisin!"

"...a raisin?"

"Yes! A very sad one!"

I snorted despite myself, shifting the pup so I could pat Zephyy’s head. "Alright, alright. You win. You can stay glued to me."

He made a triumphant chirp and curled around my neck like a scarf.

And somehow... between the sleepy crimson pup in my arms and the clingy divine dragon on my shoulder... I didn’t feel as hollow as before.

The night wasn’t as cold. The hallway lights weren’t as lonely. And my heart wasn’t as unbearably empty.

I pushed open the door to my room.

"Let’s get some sleep," I murmured, my voice softening around the edges. "I have to leave for Raventon tomorrow."

At the word Raventon , Zephyy practically vibrated on my shoulder.

"Raventon? Raventon ?" His tail puffed up like he’d been electrocuted. "The place where spirits reside? Are we going to meet spirits? Are we? Are we?! GREAT!! "

I snorted. "No. Calm down, lightning rod. We’re going to inspect the wine project and the house construction."

Zephyy stared at me. Blinked. Blinked again.

Then declared passionately, "Yes, yes, boring human things. Very tragic. But spirits! Master, I haven’t seen them in SO long! Maybe they’ll give me offerings like the old days! Maybe they’ll call me ’Little Sky Emperor’ again—"

"They will call you ’Noisy Furball,’" I corrected.

He ignored me completely, bouncing on my shoulder like an overexcited spark of chaos. "Spirits, spirits, spirits—! I must prepare! I must shine! I must glow!"

"You are glowing," I pointed out.

He sniffed. "...Not enough."

I laughed quietly, shaking my head. The pup yawned again—long, squeaky, and devastatingly adorable.

And just like that...Something in my chest loosened.

Finally—finally—I breathed without it hurting.

Even if tomorrow would be heavy again. Even if the world was preparing to rip everything from me.Even if I knew one day I’d wake up alone in a place where none of this ever happened—

Tonight...

At least tonight...

I wasn’t alone.

Not in this room. Not in this moment. Not in this borrowed life. I looked down at the tiny pup curled against my chest, at the Zephyy perched proudly on my shoulder.

"...Yeah," I whispered softly. "For now... this is enough."

***

[Next Day, Early Morning]

Zephyy stood in the courtyard in his true form—a long, sleek blue dragon with scales that shimmered like polished sky-crystals. He preened proudly, wings half-spread, tail flicking like he knew he was the star of the morning.

Alina nearly exploded.

"BROTHER!! I want to ride Zephyy too! I’m coming with you!"

Before she could leap onto him like a tiny missile, Mother caught her mid-air with practiced elegance.

"No, young lady. Your brother is going for work. And didn’t you say you’d stay with me to prepare for his marriage?"

Alina froze.Then slowly—dramatically—slumped against Mother’s shoulder like a dying heroine.

"But I want to ride Zephyyy..."

I couldn’t help laughing. I reached over and ruffled her hair gently. "Don’t worry, Alina. Once I come back, Zephyy will fly you around the entire territory."

Her eyes lit up instantly. "REALLY?"

I nodded. "Really."

Sir Roland bowed, armor gleaming in the morning light. "My lord, we will accompany you. A portion of the knights have already reached Raventon’s outer border."

"Good," I nodded. "We’ll leave immediately."

I turned toward Zephyy’s lowered wing when Father’s voice boomed across the courtyard.

"Wait—where is Alvar?"

My heart skipped.

I forced a smile that felt thinner than parchment. "He has... work of his own today. And I can handle this alone."

. . .

"Really?" Father’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You’re not hiding anything from me, are you? "

I straightened. "Of course not. I should get going."

Because if I stayed one more second, I might break all over again.

And so—

Without waiting for further questions, I stepped onto Zephyy’s wing. He lifted me effortlessly, settling me on his back. The wind shifted, cool and clean.

"Hold on tight, Master!" Zephyy chirped.

"I always do," I murmured.

With one powerful sweep of his wings—

WHOOSH!

We rose into the sky.

The ThorenVald estate shrank beneath us. The morning sun stretched long shadows across the ground.

And as the wind rushed past my ears—

For a moment, just a moment—

I felt free.

But the ache in my chest didn’t leave.It traveled with me.

Toward Raventon.Toward work.Toward whatever future waited.

And away from the man I loved.