Morning came quietly.
Too quietly.
Edrin noticed it immediately.
"…Nothing attacked us," he said, looking around as if expecting something to jump out just to prove him wrong.
"Disappointed?" Ronan asked, stretching.
"Yes," Edrin replied. "Because now I'm suspicious."
Lyra was already awake, standing at the edge of the clearing, watching the horizon.
"They've changed their approach," she said.
Edrin frowned. "I don't like that sentence."
"You don't like any sentence involving them," Ronan pointed out.
"That's because all of those sentences are bad."
Lyra turned back to them. "They're observing."
Edrin blinked. "…Observing?"
"They attacked at night. Tested your reactions," she continued. "Now they're waiting."
Edrin crossed his arms. "That feels worse than attacking."
"It is," Ronan said.
Edrin sighed. "Of course it is."
They packed quickly.
Or rather—Lyra and Ronan packed quickly.
Edrin attempted to help, got distracted halfway through tying his bag, and somehow ended up tying part of his sleeve into it.
"…I'm stuck," he announced.
Ronan looked over. "…How?"
"I don't know."
Lyra walked over, untangled him in two efficient movements, then stepped back.
"…Thank you," Edrin said.
"You need more training," she replied.
"I gathered that."
They resumed their journey soon after, moving deeper along the road. The forest began to thin, giving way to rolling hills and a wider path ahead.
Edrin glanced around cautiously.
"…This feels different."
"It is," Lyra said. "We're getting closer."
"To what?" Edrin asked.
Ronan smirked. "Civilization."
Edrin paused. "…I'm not sure I'm ready for more people."
"You handled the village," Ronan said.
"I hid behind crates."
"Fair point."
Lyra continued walking. "The next town is larger. More defenses. More information."
Edrin perked up slightly. "Information sounds useful."
"It is," she said.
"Will it involve less fighting?"
"No."
Edrin sighed. "Of course not."
They walked in relative silence for a while, the road stretching ahead beneath the morning light.
Edrin found himself thinking.
About the night.
About the fight.
About what Lyra had said.
Fear doesn't go away.
"…It changes."
He looked down at his hands.
Still steady.
Not completely.
But enough.
"…Hey," he said suddenly.
Lyra didn't turn. "What?"
Edrin hesitated. "If I keep getting better…"
"That's the goal," Ronan said.
Edrin ignored him. "…Do I stop being me?"
Lyra slowed slightly.
Then stopped.
Ronan raised an eyebrow but stayed quiet.
Lyra turned to face Edrin.
"No," she said.
Edrin frowned. "It feels like I am."
"You're not losing who you are," she said. "You're adding to it."
Edrin considered that.
"…So I can still be terrible?"
Ronan grinned. "Absolutely."
"That's reassuring."
Lyra shook her head slightly. "You're still you. Just… less helpless."
Edrin nodded slowly.
"…I think I can live with that."
"Good," Lyra said.
"Because I don't think I have a choice," he added.
"You don't," Ronan said cheerfully.
Edrin sighed. "I walked into that one."
They continued forward.
The road widened.
The hills opened up—
And in the distance—
A city came into view.
Tall walls.
Watchtowers.
Movement along the gates.
Edrin stopped.
"…That's big," he said.
"It is," Lyra replied.
Edrin squinted. "…Do they let people like me in?"
Ronan laughed. "They let people in. What they think after that is a different story."
Edrin nodded. "…I'm going to be judged again, aren't I?"
"Yes," Lyra said.
"I don't like that."
"You'll survive it."
Edrin looked at the city again.
Then at his sword.
Then back at the road.
"…Alright," he said.
A new place.
New people.
New problems.
And probably—
New ways to almost die.
Edrin took a step forward.
Then another.
"…I miss the fence," he muttered.
Ronan laughed.
Lyra didn't.
But for once—
She didn't disagree.