The group emerged from the temple’s cold, oppressive halls, breathing in the fresh night air like a lifeline. The moon shone brightly overhead, casting long shadows across the ground, but the threat from within the temple was behind them—at least for now.
Eryx helped Lysandra down the crumbling steps, his arm still wrapped protectively around her waist. She was regaining her strength, but the encounter with the shadows had left her pale and shaken.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice soft. “I wasn’t strong enough…”
“Don’t apologize,” Eryx interrupted firmly. “You’re here, and that’s what matters.”
Lysandra managed a small smile but said nothing more. Astrid and Celeste led the way through the dense forest, their eyes alert for any signs of danger. Though the shadows had been vanquished, none of them felt safe just yet.
After several minutes of walking in silence, Celeste broke the tension. “I think we could all use a break,” she suggested, glancing over her shoulder. “There’s a clearing up ahead. We should rest before we head back to the others.”
Eryx nodded in agreement. “Good idea. We need to regroup.”
They reached the clearing, where the trees parted to reveal a small patch of soft grass illuminated by the moonlight. The night was quiet, the only sounds the rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. It felt almost peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos they had just escaped.
Astrid laid out her cloak on the ground, and Lysandra gratefully sank down onto it, resting her head against a tree. Celeste scouted the perimeter, making sure there were no threats nearby, while Eryx and Astrid sat down beside Lysandra.
“How are you feeling?” Astrid asked gently.
Lysandra closed her eyes, exhaling slowly. “Better. The darkness… it was like being trapped in a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.” She shuddered slightly, and Eryx reached over, placing a hand on hers.
“You’re out of it now,” Eryx reassured her. “We’re safe.”
“For now,” Astrid said quietly, her eyes scanning the horizon. “But we can’t let our guard down. The shadows may be gone, but something about that temple… it feels unfinished.”
Celeste returned, sitting cross-legged next to the group. “We’ll deal with whatever comes next,” she said confidently. “But for now, I think we’ve earned a moment to breathe.”
Eryx leaned back, staring up at the stars. He felt the weight of everything they’d gone through pressing down on him—the battles, the danger, the close calls. But for the first time in what felt like days, they had a moment of peace. And that was something he wanted to savor.
After a long pause, Celeste stretched her arms above her head and let out a sigh. “You know, I could get used to this. Just sitting here, under the stars, no monsters trying to kill us.”
Eryx chuckled, appreciating her attempt to lighten the mood. “Yeah, it’s a nice change of pace.”
Astrid smiled softly, though her mind seemed to be elsewhere. “We’ve been through a lot, haven’t we?” she mused. “And yet, we’re still here. Still fighting.”
Lysandra opened her eyes, glancing between her companions. “I wouldn’t have made it without you all,” she admitted, her voice low but sincere. “Thank you.”
“We’re a team,” Celeste said with a grin, her usual playfulness creeping back into her tone. “Besides, we couldn’t let you have all the fun.”
Lysandra laughed softly, though the weariness in her expression remained. “Fun isn’t exactly the word I’d use.”
The conversation lulled, and for a while, they simply sat in the stillness of the night, each of them lost in their own thoughts. The tension from the temple was slowly beginning to fade, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and relief.
Eryx, however, found his thoughts drifting elsewhere. He looked at his companions, feeling a deep connection to each of them. Lysandra’s resilience, Astrid’s wisdom, Celeste’s fierce spirit—they had all become more than just allies. They were his closest friends, his chosen family.
And yet, there was something more, something unspoken. His feelings for Lysandra, Celeste, and Astrid had deepened over time, and now, in this quiet moment, he felt the weight of those emotions pressing at the edges of his consciousness.
Eryx glanced at Lysandra, who had closed her eyes again, her breathing steady. He looked at Astrid, her calm, thoughtful expression, and then at Celeste, who was leaning back on her elbows, gazing up at the stars with a relaxed smile.
He cared for them deeply, more than he had ever expected. But how could he express those feelings? And in the midst of all the chaos they still faced, was now even the right time?
Before he could dwell too much on the thought, Celeste nudged him with her foot. “Hey, dreamer. You look like you’re off in your own world over there.”
Eryx smirked, shaking his head. “Just thinking.”
“Care to share with the class?” Celeste teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Just… grateful,” he said, keeping it simple. “Grateful to be here with you all.”
Astrid smiled warmly, and Celeste gave a playful shrug. “Well, you’re lucky to have us,” she said with a wink. “We’re kind of amazing.”
“Can’t argue with that,” Eryx replied, chuckling.
The banter lightened the mood, and for a while longer, they stayed in the clearing, enjoying the rare moment of peace. The threat of the shadows still lingered, but for tonight, they could rest, recover, and—at least for a little while—forget about the dangers that awaited them.
As the moon rose higher in the sky, Eryx felt a renewed sense of determination. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together. And no matter what, he would protect the people he cared about.
Tomorrow, they would return to the temple, but tonight, they had each other. And that was enough.
