Kendrick and Kealith stood facing each other, a whirlwind of emotions swirling in their eyes.
Happy to see each other after so long, yet betrayed by the silence and absence. Anxiety gnawed at them both; the weight of unspoken words hung heavy in the air.
A mixture of relief, confusion, and a touch of resentment colored their expressions.
Kealith, breaking the tense silence, spoke first, his voice laced with a careful blend of concern and firmness.
"Kendrick… who was that girl you brought inside?"
Kendrick hesitated, his gaze flickering.
"Just… someone I met on my travels." A blatant lie.
Kealith raised an eyebrow, a knowing glint in his eyes.
"Someone with pointed ears, Kendrick? I saw her, you know. Tell me the truth."
Kendrick shifted uncomfortably. "It's… complicated."
"Complicated how? I saw her, Kendrick. Don't make me pry. Just tell me." Kealith's voice held a hint of impatience, but his underlying concern was unmistakable.
Kendrick sighed, defeat coloring his voice. "Fine. Her name is Elara. She's… an elf."
Kealith slowly approached, his eyes searching Kendrick's face.
A flurry of questions poured forth, each one adding to Kendrick's growing unease.
"Where did you find her? Why is she here? And why are you here? What have you been doing for the past twelve years?"
Kendrick felt overwhelmed by the sudden barrage of questions.
He stumbled over his words, trying to answer but feeling lost in the torrent of Kealith's inquiries.
Kealith sighed, sensing Kendrick's distress. "Perhaps some tea would help. Let's talk this over calmly."
Kendrick nodded, relieved by the suggestion.
He went inside the cabin and began brewing tea, the aroma of herbs filling the small space.
Kealith sat on a worn couch, the silence punctuated only by the gentle crackling of the fire.
Once the tea was ready, Kendrick handed a steaming mug to Kealith, settling down opposite him.
Kealith took a sip, then started talking. "The majesties summoned our guild to the castle. You and I… we're the only survivors."
He paused, his gaze intense. "Why weren't you there, Kendrick?"
Kendrick shook his head. "I didn't receive any summons. I checked. I'm certain of it."
They sipped their tea in comfortable silence for a moment before Kendrick spoke again.
"Why were we summoned, anyway?"
Kealith hesitated before answering. "I don't want to jump into that right now. Let's catch up first. It's been twelve years."
Kendrick looked away, avoiding Kealith's gaze.
The unspoken question hung in the air: Why did you leave without a word?
Kealith broke the silence, his voice firm.
"Kendrick, why did you leave? I was devastated after the attack. I needed someone. Losing Mira… losing everyone… I felt worthless. But you were my only surviving teammate. I saved your life that day, and in return, you left me without a word."
Kendrick sighed, a wave of guilt washing over him.
"I appreciate your help, Kealith. I didn't leave without a word. I left a letter… on the table beside you when you were unconscious."
Kealith raised an eyebrow. "A letter? I didn't see any letter."
Kendrick explained, his voice low and apologetic.
"It said that I appreciated your help, that I needed to find something… that something felt missing inside me. I needed to set out on a journey to find it."
Kealith nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face. "We should put the past behind us."
Kendrick changed the subject, his voice softer now. "How… how are you doing, Kealith? After… Mira?"
Kealith's face softened, a flicker of sadness crossing his features.
Kendrick immediately apologized, sensing the pain his question caused.
Kealith reassured him. "It's okay, Kendrick. It's been hard, of course. But… I'll always love her, no matter what. Time heals, but the memories remain."
He chuckled softly. "But enough about my woes. The reason I'm here, looking for you, is… the money."
Kealith explained that the majesties had rewarded their guild handsomely—over 900,000 gold pieces! Kendrick nearly choked on his tea.
"Nine hundred thousand?! Are you serious?!"
Kealith nodded. "I've prepared half for you—450,000 gold pieces."
As Kealith continued, Kendrick sat in stunned silence, his face a mixture of shock and anxiety.
"Four hundred and fifty thousand gold pieces… this is outrageous!"
Kealith opened his magic room, revealing the vast treasure. He then produced a simple, leather wallet.
"This is for both of us. It's enchanted to hold all that gold safely and easily accessible."
Kendrick thanked him profusely, his initial shock slowly giving way to gratitude.
Once he had calmed down, he asked about Elara. "What's her name again? And… how did you find her?"
Kendrick's nervousness returned.
"Her name is Elara. I found her… while on my journey. I felt something pulling me to a clearing. She was wrapped in a cloth, surrounded by this strange, glowing light. I found her, all alone. I thought to myself, who would leave a baby in the woods? But when I held her… I saw her ears. I was surprised at first, but then… I held her tight. I cradled her in my arms. It felt like destiny"
Kealith raised an eyebrow. "Do you know what this means?"
Kendrick nodded solemnly. "She's the last elf."
Kealith agreed. "That's Right", "And what's your plan?" he asked
Kendrick clenched his hand and replied "I'll protect her, no matter what, she's too precious, right now she needs protection, and I will be giving her that"
He then asked, "I see, Has she awakened her powers yet?"
Kendrick looked up at kealith and nodded.
Kealith stood up. "Good, I'll come back sometime when I'm free and teach her a few spells, perhaps."
Kendrick's eyes lit up and smiled. "That would be wonderful."
Kealith then turned to the door ready to leave, "That's all for now, I'll be going back, I have a lot of things to do."
"Do you remember the way?" Kendrick asked.
Kealith grinned. "Don't worry. I casted a spell that pin points the town, I'll be fine."
Kendrick smiled, bidding Kealith farewell as he watched his friend disappear into the woods.