The castle was quiet, almost eerily so, as night fell over the emptiness of this realm. The corridors were dark, the only light from flickering torches in distant halls. In our chambers, a single fire crackled, throwing golden warmth across the stone walls. For the first time in weeks, there was a moment of calm, a pause between battles, both real and those still looming in our minds.
After we both showered and returned to our chambers, Elias leaned against the doorframe, eyes soft in the firelight. I sat on the floor by the fireplace, staring into the flames, my mind half on the sorcerer, half on the unusual quiet around us. The day’s tension, the constant edge of planning and fear, had finally ebbed enough for us to notice each other again—not as fighters, but as people.
“You’ve been q
