The meal had ended, and the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the garden pavilion. Darren leaned back in his chair, his satisfied expression mirroring the contentment that had settled over the group. "This has been nice," he said, glancing at Eirik with a sincerity that was hard to miss. "I hope we can do it again sometime."
Eirik returned the smile, a genuine warmth in his expression that surprised even him. "I'd like that," he replied, and he meant it. Despite the uncertainties of his future, there was something comforting in the idea of forming bonds, of having allies in this foreign land. The camaraderie that had developed between him and the cousins was unexpected but welcome, a glimmer of hope in what had otherwise been a daunting situation.
