The decision weighed heavily on my chest, but as the hours stretched on, I knew I couldn't put it off any longer. Veylara's whispers still lingered in my mind, but for once, she was silent, letting me navigate this moment on my own. I stared at the ceiling of my dorm room, the dim light from the bedside lamp casting long shadows across the walls.
This wasn't going to be easy, but it was necessary. Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself off the bed and grabbed my jacket. The air in the hall felt colder than usual as I stepped out, my footsteps echoing faintly against the tiled floor. My first stop was Sera's room. Her door was slightly ajar, the warm glow of her desk lamp spilling into the hallway. I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the wood, before I gave it a gentle knock.
"Sera? It's me," I called softly.
A pause. Then, "Come in."
I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Sera was seated at her desk, her long golden hair tumbling over her shoulder as she turned to face me. Her sapphire blue eyes locked onto mine, but there was a guardedness to her gaze, a flicker of tension that made my stomach twist. "What is it?" she asked, her tone clipped but not entirely cold. I took a step closer, running a hand through my hair as I tried to find the right words. "I… need to talk to you about something important." She raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her chair. "Alright. Go on."
I hesitated, the weight of my decision pressing down on me. "I've decided to leave. In a few days, I'm going home… and after that, I'm going to try to become an adventurer." Her expression froze, her sapphire eyes widening. For a moment, she didn't say anything, just stared at me as if she couldn't quite process my words.
"You're… leaving?" she finally whispered, her voice trembling. I nodded, my chest tightening. "Yeah. I think it's the right thing to do. I need to—"
"No," she cut me off, standing abruptly. Her chair scraped against the floor as she turned away, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "You don't get to just drop this on me like it's nothing, Noctis."
"Sera, I'm sorry," I said, my voice strained. "I know this is sudden, but it's something I've been thinking about for a while. I need to do this—for me."
"For you," she repeated bitterly, her back still turned to me. "And what about us? What about everything we've been through together? You're just… walking away?"
"It's not like that," I insisted, stepping closer. "I'm not abandoning you or anyone else. I'll still—"
"Don't," she said sharply, spinning around to face me. Tears glistened in her eyes, threatening to spill over. "Don't say you'll still be here. You won't be. You're leaving, Noctis. Just admit it." Her words cut deeper than I expected, and for a moment, I didn't know what to say.
"Sera, I—"
"Just go," she interrupted, her voice breaking. A single tear slipped down her cheek as she turned back toward her desk. "I can't do this right now." I wanted to stay, to try to make her understand, but the look on her face left no room for argument. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nodded, even though she couldn't see me, and quietly left her room.
The hallway felt colder now, the silence oppressive as I made my way to Armand's dorm. His door was closed, as usual, but I knocked firmly. "Come in," his voice called from within. I opened the door to find him seated at his desk, meticulously organizing a stack of papers. He looked up as I entered, his steel-gray eyes sharp and calculating as always. "Noctis," he said, setting down his pen. "What brings you here?"
"I need to talk to you," I said, stepping inside and closing the door behind me. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "I'm listening." Taking a deep breath, I repeated the words I had said to Sera. This time, they felt heavier, as if saying them again solidified the decision in a way I wasn't ready for. Armand's expression didn't falter as I spoke. When I finished, he was silent for a moment, his gaze piercing. "So, you've finally made up your mind," he said, his tone calm but firm. "Yeah," I said quietly. "I have." He nodded slowly, standing and walking over to me. To my surprise, he clapped a hand on my shoulder. "Good," he said simply. "This is the right choice for you."
I blinked, caught off guard by his response. "You think so?" He gave me a small smile—rare, but genuine. "You've always been restless here, Noctis. I could see it. This place was never going to be enough for you. Go. Find what you're looking for." His words were a balm to the turmoil in my chest, and I found myself nodding, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "Thanks, Armand."
"Don't mention it," he said, stepping back. "Just make sure you don't forget where you came from."
I left his room feeling a little lighter, but there was still one more person I needed to talk to.
Alaria's door was at the far end of the hall, and as I approached, I couldn't shake the unease settling in my stomach. I knocked hesitantly, the sound echoing in the quiet corridor. The door opened a crack, revealing Alaria's emerald-green eyes. She regarded me with a curious expression, tilting her head slightly.
"What do you want, darling?" she asked, her voice sweet but tinged with mischief.
"I need to talk to you," I said.
She opened the door wider, leaning against the frame. "About?"
"I'm leaving," I said bluntly, the words feeling strange on my tongue. "In a few days, I'm going home." Her expression shifted subtly, but I couldn't quite read her. She studied me for a moment, then smiled faintly. "Is that so?" she said softly. Before I could respond, she closed the door without another word.
I stood there for a moment, staring at the wood, unsure of what had just happened. Her reaction was… odd. But I didn't have the energy to dwell on it. With a heavy heart, I made my way back to my dorm. By the time I collapsed onto my bed, exhaustion had taken hold, and sleep came quickly, pulling me into its embrace like a dark, endless void.
The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, illuminating the room in a warm glow as I moved around, gathering my belongings. My suitcase sat half-packed on the bed, clothes neatly folded inside. Veylara's voice, as always, hovered at the edge of my thoughts, her tone light and teasing as she spoke of the grand future awaiting us. "Just imagine it," she said, her voice smooth and almost musical, "the two of us out there, carving a path through this dull, predictable world. You'll set me free, and we'll reshape the future together. It'll be glorious, Noctis. You'll see." I sighed, glancing toward the corner of the room where her veiled figure leaned casually against the wall, her black curls spilling from beneath the fabric. "It sounds… ambitious," I muttered, focusing on shoving a few books into the side pocket of my bag. Her laughter was soft but carried an edge of excitement. "Ambition is what drives change, my dear. You'll learn that soon enough. Trust me, everything I've planned will come together perfectly." Before I could respond, a knock at the door interrupted us. It was firm but not urgent. I frowned, glancing at the door.
"Who could that be?" I muttered.
Veylara tilted her head, her golden eyes glinting with amusement beneath the veil. "Perhaps someone who's not ready to say goodbye?" I ignored her, crossing the room and pulling the door open. My breath caught for a moment as I took in the sight before me.
Alaria stood there, her crimson hair cascading over her shoulders, though her expression wasn't its usual mischievous smirk. Instead, she looked… determined. Over her shoulder was a large pack, clearly stuffed to the brim, and she tilted her head with a coy grin.
"Morning, darling," she said, her voice as sweet and melodic as ever. "Ready to let me in?"
I blinked, stepping aside automatically. "Alaria, what… what's with the bag?"
She sauntered in, the pack bouncing slightly on her back as she surveyed the room. "Oh, this? Just thought I'd join you on your little adventure," she said casually, dropping the bag onto my desk with a thud. My heart sank slightly, and I closed the door, turning to face her. "What are you talking about? I'm leaving, Alaria. Alone." She spun around, placing her hands on her hips, her emerald-green eyes narrowing. "And why would I let you go off on your own? Honestly, Noctis, you'd be lost without me."
"Alaria," I began, trying to keep my voice calm, "this isn't a group trip. It's… personal."
"Oh, please," she interrupted, rolling her eyes dramatically. "You think I'm just going to sit around here and twiddle my thumbs while you run off into the great unknown? Not a chance." Veylara's voice chimed in my mind, a soft chuckle laced with irritation. She's persistent, isn't she? Perhaps too much for her own good. I resisted the urge to respond aloud, focusing on Alaria instead. "Look, I appreciate the thought, but this isn't something you can just decide to be a part of." She stepped closer, her grin softening into something almost… vulnerable. "Why not? I'm serious, Noctis. I can help. You know I'm not exactly useless out there." I hesitated, her words catching me off guard. She had a point—Alaria was skilled, quick, and undeniably resourceful. But the idea of her coming along, especially with everything going on with Veylara, felt… complicated. "Alaria, this isn't just about having someone by my side," I said slowly, trying to choose my words carefully. "There are things I need to figure out. On my own." Her grin faltered for a moment, and she crossed her arms, looking down at the floor. "So, that's it? You're just going to leave without giving me a chance to prove I can be there for you?"
"I'm not saying you can't," I said, sighing. "It's just… this is something I have to do for myself." The room fell silent for a moment, the tension hanging heavy in the air. Then Alaria straightened, her grin returning, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Well, we'll see about that," she said, slinging the pack back over her shoulder. "I'm not going to let you slip away so easily, Noctis. Whether you like it or not, I've got your back." With that, she turned and strode toward the door, pausing just before stepping out. "Oh, and don't think you've seen the last of me," she added with a wink before disappearing into the hallway.
I stared after her, feeling a mix of frustration and confusion. Veylara's laughter broke the silence, soft and knowing. "She's quite the handful, isn't she?" I shook my head, running a hand through my hair. "You don't say."
"She won't let you go easily," Veylara mused, her voice dripping with amusement. "But that might work in our favor. After all, a little chaos can be… useful." I shot her a sharp look, but she just smiled beneath her veil, her golden eyes glinting with mischief. With a sigh, I turned back to my packing. This journey was already shaping up to be more complicated than I'd anticipated.