Crimson & Light

The forest was quiet, with only the soft rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of unseen creatures breaking the stillness. Morning dew clung to the vibrant, multicolored leaves, making the surroundings glow faintly in the early sunlight. Despite the serene setting, the group's mood was heavy, as though everyone could feel the weight of what was about to happen.

Thorne stretched dramatically, his broad frame casting a long shadow over the campfire's remnants. "Guess this the last time y'all get to hear my golden voice fer a while," he announced, his grin as wide as ever. "Betcha gonna miss it! Might even cry a little. It's okay; I won't judge."

Jane let out a small laugh but quickly dropped her gaze, her smile fading. "Stew or no stew, it won't be the same without you." Her voice was soft, and she fiddled with the hem of her cloak, avoiding Thorne's eyes.

Changra, still tying his boots, glanced up at Thorne. He's trying so hard to keep the mood light, but even he knows this sucks. His chest tightened at the thought. They've been with us since the beginning. It's gonna feel weird without them. Too weird.

"Golden voice?" Changra said, forcing a smirk. "I think I'll miss the way you keep mispronouncing basic words, honestly. That's what'll really stick with me."

Thorne clutched his chest as if struck by a mortal wound. "Why ya gotta cut so deep, kid? I'm tryna leave y'all with good memories, not scars!"

Even Aria cracked a small smirk at that, though she quickly masked it by rolling her eyes. "You're insufferable," she muttered. Her tone was sharp, but the way she avoided meeting anyone's gaze betrayed her own discomfort.

Berethia stood a little apart from the group, her usual serene smile plastered across her face as she watched the interactions. She said nothing, her hands clasped in front of her, but her gaze lingered on Changra for a moment longer than usual.

"Don't screw this up, okay?" Aria finally said, directing the comment at no one in particular. Her voice carried its usual bluntness, but there was a rare warmth in it that made Changra's stomach twist.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Changra replied, trying to sound nonchalant, though he could feel his nerves tightening. Why do I feel like this is my fault somehow?

Thorne walked over to Jane and ruffled her hair, earning a playful slap on the wrist. "Don't miss me too much, Jane. If ya need a good laugh, just think 'bout the time I got scared of that chicken."

Jane giggled, though the sound was tinged with sadness. "I'll try."

As the group packed up the last of their belongings, Changra glanced at the vibrant forest around them. "This place is… unreal," he muttered under his breath. "Feels like one of those old National Geographic photos."

"What's a… Nat-ee-onal Ge-oh-whatsit?" Thorne asked, tilting his head in confusion.

Changra blinked, realizing his slip. "Oh, uh… nothing. Just something from… before."

"Yer weird, kid," Thorne said, shaking his head with a grin. "But I like ya."

Berethia's eyes flicked toward Changra at the mention of "before," but she didn't say anything, her smile remaining calm and unreadable.

As the group prepared to head out, Jane leaned toward Changra. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded but didn't say anything. Am I? I don't even know anymore.

The group set off down the forest path, their footsteps crunching softly against the damp ground. For once, Thorne was quieter than usual, though his attempts to keep things light earlier still hung in the air. Aria walked beside him, her usual confidence dampened, while Berethia led the way with her usual grace. Changra lingered near the back, his thoughts swirling with questions he couldn't answer.

The journey felt heavier than it ever had before.

The forest stretched out before them, quieter than usual. The vibrant colors of the trees—normally rich with life—seemed muted, as though the forest itself knew this parting was near. The faint hum of magic in the air had softened, leaving an almost eerie stillness in its place.

Thorne walked ahead of Changra, his massive frame swaying slightly as he gestured animatedly. "Y'all remember that wall climbin' test durin' trainin'? Thought I had it in the bag. Went up that wall faster than a squirrel on a sugar rush—then boom! Landed flat on my face." He threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing faintly through the trees. "Thought fer sure I broke somethin' important."

Aria, walking just ahead, didn't even turn around. "You mean your pride?" she said dryly. "Pretty sure that's the only thing you ever break."

Jane covered her mouth as a laugh slipped out. "You did scream pretty loudly. I thought it was the end for you."

"Loud? That wasn't loud!" Thorne protested, looking scandalized. "That was me warmin' up my lungs fer battle, thank you very much!"

Changra smiled faintly, but a pang of sadness twisted in his chest. This is nice. Why does it have to end here? He hadn't realized how much he'd come to enjoy this strange group until now. Even Thorne's terrible grammar and over-the-top antics had become… endearing.

Berethia walked a few paces ahead of everyone, leading the way with quiet confidence. Her expression was calm, almost serene, as though she wasn't hearing the group's chatter at all. Changra caught himself watching her for a moment, her movements as graceful as ever, but her silence felt… off. What's going on in her head? he wondered. Does she even care that we're splitting up?

Thorne suddenly turned toward Changra, snapping him out of his thoughts. "What 'bout you, kid? Got any stories from yer trainin' days?"

Changra froze for a second. Training days? Does sitting in a classroom on Earth count? He scratched the back of his head. "Uh, not really. I mean, I wasn't exactly the sporty type."

"Spooorty?" Thorne repeated slowly, as though the word itself was foreign. "What kinda word is that?"

"Yeah, it means, like, athletic," Changra explained quickly, realizing his mistake. "I spent most of my time, uh… studying." Well, staring at a wall and avoiding people, but close enough.

Thorne frowned as though studying was a concept he couldn't fully grasp. "Don't know what kinda trainin' that is, but sounds borin'."

Aria turned her head slightly, her eyes briefly flicking to Changra. "I'm surprised you survived the exams at all," she said bluntly, though there was no malice in her tone. "But you did. That's something."

"Yeah…" Changra trailed off, not sure how to respond. I didn't survive. The dagger did. And I don't even know how long that luck's gonna last.

The group continued down the path, their footsteps crunching softly against the forest floor. Jane's laughter chimed now and then as Thorne launched into another ridiculous story, this time about the time he mistook a cat for a feral beast and ended up with claw marks all over his face.

Changra couldn't help but smile at their banter, but the weight in his chest wouldn't lift. They're leaving soon, he thought, his eyes lingering on Thorne and Aria. What happens after that?

Berethia's voice broke through his thoughts. "We're almost there," she said, glancing back at them with her usual warm smile. But for just a fraction of a second, her eyes flicked to Jane holding onto Changra's arm. The warmth in her expression faltered ever so slightly before returning. It was so brief that Changra wasn't sure if he'd imagined it.

The forest opened into a wide clearing, where two dirt paths forked in opposite directions. The morning mist still lingered, swirling around the towering trees and giving the crossroads an almost mystical feel. A small wooden signpost stood in the middle, its carved arrows pointing toward each path. One read Eclipsevane while the other was labeled with a name Changra couldn't quite pronounce, though it looked vaguely intimidating.

"So this is it, huh?" Thorne said, breaking the silence as the group came to a stop. He clapped Changra on the shoulder with enough force to make him stagger. "Don't go missin' me too much, kid. And fer the love of all that's holy, don't let no giant chickens get ya!"

Changra chuckled, rubbing his shoulder. "I'll do my best. But if one shows up, I'm blaming you."

Thorne let out a booming laugh. "That's fair. Ain't no way I'd leave ya alone with one of those monsters!"

Aria, standing a step behind Thorne, crossed her arms and surveyed the group. Her sharp eyes lingered on Jane and Berethia for a moment before settling on Changra. "You'll be fine," she said briskly, nodding toward the others. "Stay sharp. And try not to do anything stupid."

Her gaze softened slightly as she added, "And try not to get yourself killed, okay?"

Changra forced a grin, though his chest felt heavy. "I'll try. But, you know… no promises."

Jane stepped forward, her eyes already glistening with unshed tears. She threw her arms around Thorne first, her small frame barely reaching his chest. "Good luck," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Thorne, uncharacteristically gentle, patted her back awkwardly. "Don't worry 'bout us, shortcake. We'll be just fine."

When Jane turned to hug Aria, the other girl stiffened for a moment before awkwardly returning the embrace. "Don't cry. It's not like we're dying," Aria muttered, though her tone was softer than usual.

Finally, Jane stepped back, brushing her hands over her eyes. "You two better stay safe. I mean it."

"Can't make no promises," Thorne said with a wink, though his usual humor couldn't entirely mask the tension in the air.

Berethia, who had been standing quietly to the side, stepped forward with her usual graceful composure. "Safe travels," she said, her smile warm but her tone unreadable. She didn't offer a hug, but her gaze lingered on Aria for a moment longer than necessary before she stepped back.

Changra shoved his hands into his pockets, unsure of what to say. What do you even say in moments like this? He wanted to crack a joke, something to ease the awkwardness, but his throat felt dry.

"Well," Thorne said, adjusting the straps on his pack. "Guess we better hit the road. Don't wanna keep the big wigs waitin'. Catch y'all on the flip side!"

With that, he and Aria turned toward their path. Aria gave the group one last glance, her expression unreadable, before following Thorne.

Changra watched them until they disappeared into the mist, the silence settling over the group like a heavy blanket. "This feels weird," he muttered, mostly to himself.

Jane sighed, stepping closer to him. "Yeah. It does."

Berethia tilted her head slightly, her smile returning. "We'll see them again. For now, we have our own path to follow."

Something in her tone made Changra glance at her, but she had already turned back toward their path, leading the way without hesitation.

The forest was quiet, the absence of Aria and Thorne making it feel somehow larger and emptier than before. The vibrant glow of the trees seemed dimmer, their hum quieter, as if the world itself was reflecting the group's subdued mood.

Jane tried to break the silence, pointing at a cluster of oddly-shaped plants along the path. "Look at those! They look like little mushrooms with wings… Do you think they could fly?"

Changra chuckled softly, though he could hear the slight waver in her voice. "Probably. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to eat us too."

Jane laughed, though it sounded forced. She brushed her hair behind her ear and glanced back at the path they had come from. "It's weird, isn't it? Not having them here."

"Yeah," Changra admitted, his voice quieter than usual. "It feels… off."

Berethia walked ahead of them, her pace steady and confident as always. She didn't say much, but Changra noticed how often she glanced back at him, her serene smile lingering a little too long each time.

Changra's thoughts churned as they walked. This was the first time since he'd arrived in Elakia that things felt truly empty. Aria and Thorne had been constants, their banter and larger-than-life personalities filling the gaps that his own uncertainty left behind. Without them, the journey felt heavier, quieter. I guess that's just how it goes, he thought bitterly. People leave.

Jane fell silent beside him, her usual cheer dimmed by the weight of their goodbyes. She clung a little closer to Changra as they walked, her hand occasionally brushing against his arm. He didn't pull away.

Berethia, still leading the group, turned her head slightly, her voice calm and reassuring. "They'll be fine. Thorne and Aria are strong, and their path is their own. Just as ours is."

Her words hung in the air, and while they made sense, Changra couldn't shake the lingering unease in his chest. He felt like something was missing, like a piece of their group had been cut away, leaving a jagged edge that didn't quite fit anymore.

I wonder what they'll face out there, he thought, glancing back over his shoulder at the fork in the road, now far behind them. And I wonder if I'll ever see them again.

As the path stretched ahead, the three of them continued on, their footsteps echoing softly in the forest's stillness.