The rest of the group, Cypress, Wrenna, and Corvin welcomed Heka with open arms. Their warmth was genuine. When they gathered for a meal, they made sure Heka was the center of attention. Plates piled high with food were offered to him. No one hesitated to share what little they had.
"Here you are..." Wrenna said. Her voice was gentle but firm as she handed Heka a large piece of meat. Her eyes softened with concern.
"Well, listen!! You must take proper meals." She gripped Heka's hand tightly. Her tone almost scolded but filled with care. "Look at yourself!! It's terrible…how thin you are."
"Okay…" Heka nodded quietly, taking a tentative bite. The food was unfamiliar but nourishing. For the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of comfort.
"It's so hard to survive in here, isn't it?" Corvin said. His voice was low and reflective. He glanced around the dimly lit room. The moment of their shared struggles hangs in the air. "But you're not alone anymore."
Heka looked up, meeting their eyes. For the first time, he allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, this ragtag group could become something like family.
Heka nodded slowly. His voice was barely above a whisper. "Yeah, you're right."
But inside, his mind was tangled with one overwhelming thought, it was always Waylinn. Without him, Heka felt as if he were already dead.
Waylinn was more than just his savior; he was his anchor, his protector, the one who gave him hope in a world that often seemed merciless.
"Are you okay? You must be struggling." Wrenna said gently. Her eyes was filled with genuine concern as she reached out to touch his arm lightly.
Heka forced a small smile, trying to mask the turmoil inside. He said, trying to sound confident, but the tremor in his voice betrayed his uncertainty. "Although it is terrible, Waylinn always takes care of me. So, there is nothing to worry about."
Wrenna murmured, her sympathy unmistakable. "Oh….dear…how poor of you."
"Well if you have any trouble, or nowhere to stay… You can come to us." Corvin added, his tone sincere and reassuring. His words hung in the air like a lifeline, an offer of safety and belonging.
But those words, instead of comforting Heka, stirred a painful memory deep within him. They reminded him of his past. The time right after his parents died.
Back then, everyone had promised to help him, to support him, to be there when he needed them most. They had said he could come to them if he ever faced problems.
Yet, those promises had been empty. The people who had vowed to protect him had vanished. They acted as nothing bad hapenned. Their eyes looked Heka as if he was silhouette.
The betrayal had cut deep, leaving scars that still throbbed beneath his skin. He choked back the flood of bitter memories. The weight of broken trust pressed down on his heart.
For a moment, Heka's eyes glazed over with pain, and his hands clenched tightly in his lap. The past whispered cruel doubts. Could he really believe in these new promises? Could he risk opening his heart again?
But then, looking at the faces around him, Wrenna's gentle concern, Corvin's steady kindness. Something fragile began to stir inside him. Maybe, just maybe, this time could be different.
Still, the shadow of his past lingered, a silent warning that trust was a fragile thing. Everything easily shattered and hard to rebuild.
"I think Corvin is right. You can stay here as you want, for eternity." Wrenna said softly. Her voice carried a comforting vibe yet insistent tone. She looked at Heka with gentle eyes, as if trying to convince him that this place could be a home, a sanctuary.
"No thanks. I would like to stay until Waylinn comes and picks me." Heka replied firmly, shaking his head.
Wrenna's brow furrowed slightly, her concern deepening. She asked, her voice tinged with worry. "But how long?"
"Until Waylinn comes." Heka repeated. His tone was unwavering, though a flicker of uncertainty shadowed his words.
"When? When will he come?" Wrenna pressed. She leaned in closer. Her eyes sought his face for any hint of hope or despair.
"I don't know. All I can do is wait." Heka admitted quietly. His gaze dropped to the floor.
There was something else gnawing at him, a quiet unease that he couldn't shake. Why did it feel like they were trying to force him to stay?
Their kindness, their insistence, it puzzled him deeply. It was as if beneath their warm smiles and generous offers lay an unspoken expectation, a subtle pressure that made him uneasy.
"Oh my dear...." Wrenna said, her voice softening with a mixture of sympathy and urgency. "I know how you feel. But you must open your eyes. You have to understand that the immortal realm is completely different from the human realm. Time flows differently here, and the rules you know no longer apply."
She paused, letting her words sink in. Her eyes was filled with a mixture of kindness and a hint of seriousness. "You must learn to adapt, to accept that this place has its own ways. Waiting for Waylinn might take longer than you think. You must have another plan if your friend doesn't come to pick you up. Sometimes, the second choice is better."
Heka listened carefully, absorbing her words. The idea of having a second plan was foreign to him, but it made sense. Hope was important, but so was preparation. He said quietly. "I see. Thanks for your advice. I will think about it."
Wrenna's face softened into a warm grin, her eyes twinkling with affection. "Oh... dear... You are so cute." She teased gently, her tone lightening the weight of the conversation.
Despite the playful remark, the truth in her words lingered in the air. The immortal realm was a place of endless possibilities and endless dangers. Heka realized that while waiting for Waylinn was his heart's desire.
Perhaps, he needed to be ready for whatever else might come his way.