The night passed peacefully, but as dawn broke, Cedric found himself staring out over the horizon, a strange sense of unease settling over him. The village was safe for now, but he knew that their journey was far from over. The dark sorcerer they had encountered still lingered in his thoughts, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was coming.
Lira joined him at the edge of the village, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon as well. "You're thinking about him, aren't you?"
Cedric nodded. "The sorcerer… the one in the ruins. He knew about my magic, Lira. That can't be a coincidence."
Lira's expression darkened. "It's not. There's more at play here than we realize."
Cedric sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I've been thinking about it all night. My magic… I don't fully understand it yet. I don't know how to control it, how to use it in the way that sorcerer seemed to think I could."
Lira crossed her arms, her gaze hardening. "You don't need to understand everything right away. You're still learning. But you're not alone. We'll figure it out."
Cedric looked at her, surprised by the rare show of encouragement. "Thanks, Lira. I appreciate that."
She shrugged, her expression softening just a fraction. "Don't get used to it."
They stood in silence for a few more moments, the weight of the coming journey hanging between them.
---
As the day wore on, the group gathered their supplies and prepared to leave the village behind. The villagers had offered to let them stay longer, but Cedric knew they couldn't remain in one place for too long. There were too many questions left unanswered, too many threats still lurking in the shadows.
Tamsin stood with them at the village gates, her hands clasped nervously in front of her. "Are you sure you don't need me to come with you?"
Maeve, standing nearby with her pack slung over her shoulder, grinned. "Oh, we definitely need you. Healers are in short supply, you know."
Cedric smiled warmly at Tamsin. "If you want to come with us, we'd be glad to have you. But this is your home. You don't have to leave it if you're not ready."
Tamsin hesitated, her eyes scanning the village she had grown up in. But after a moment, she nodded, a look of determination crossing her face. "No… I think I need to come with you. There's more out there I need to see. More I need to learn."
Lira gave her a nod of approval. "Good choice."
Kellen, ever the jokester, clapped his hands together. "Looks like the family's growing."
Maeve rolled her eyes, but she couldn't hide the grin tugging at her lips. "Great. More mouths to feed."
With that, the group set off once more, the village fading into the distance behind them. Cedric felt a sense of renewed purpose as they walked, the bond between his companions stronger than ever. Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.
And as they ventured deeper into the unknown, Cedric knew that the answers they sought—and the challenges they would face—were only just beginning.