The group continued deeper into the dungeon, the path winding and narrow, illuminated only by the faint glow of the moss on the walls. The tension from the battle with the dragon had faded, replaced with lighthearted chatter.
Mark walked at the front, spinning his axe casually. "Did you see how I took down that flaming wolf? Pretty slick, huh?"
"Yeah, yeah," Angel teased, rolling her eyes. "If by 'slick,' you mean screaming like a child when it pounced at you."
Jackson laughed, carrying JC's old staff like a trophy. "She's got you there."
Mark grumbled, pretending to ignore them, while Jackson and Angel continued to joke around.
---
In the Back
JC and Lissy lagged behind the group, their steps slower, more deliberate. Lissy walked close to him, her fingers brushing against his.
"You've changed," Lissy said softly, glancing at JC.
JC raised an eyebrow, his calm expression unchanged. "Have I?"
She nodded. "You're stronger, sure. But… you're quieter. Colder, even. I've been wondering…" She hesitated, her voice lowering. "Are you okay?"
JC stopped walking, turning to face her. His crimson eyes softened as he took her hand in his.
"I'm fine," he said, his voice quieter now, almost gentle. "But it hasn't been easy. These past three years… I had to push myself to limits I didn't think existed. I had to be stronger, not just for me, but for all of you."
Lissy looked down, her grip tightening on his hand. "You didn't have to do it alone."
"I did," JC replied, his tone firm but not unkind. "If I stayed with you, I wouldn't have been able to unlock my true potential. I had to leave, to grow… and to protect you."
---
A Confession
They started walking again, their steps syncing as they fell into a comfortable silence.
"I missed you," Lissy admitted after a while, her voice barely above a whisper.
JC smiled faintly. "I missed you too."
"Then why didn't you come back sooner?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
He sighed, running a hand through his long white hair. "Because I was scared. Scared that I wasn't strong enough. Scared that I'd fail you all. And… scared that I'd lose you."
Lissy stopped, pulling him to a halt. "You won't lose me, JC. Not ever."
He looked at her, his expression softening. "I know. That's what keeps me going."
She smiled, her cheeks flushing slightly. "You're such a dork sometimes."
"And you're too good for me," JC replied, his tone playful but sincere.
---
Back with the Group
As they rejoined the others, Lissy's hand still in his, Angel smirked knowingly. "Looks like someone's been having a little heart-to-heart back there."
"Shut it, Angel," Lissy said, though her smile betrayed her embarrassment.
"Let them be," Mark said with a grin. "We all knew this was gonna happen eventually."
JC just chuckled, his usual stoic demeanor slightly softer as he glanced at Lissy.
"Let's keep moving," he said, his voice steady but lighter than before.
The group nodded, their camaraderie stronger than ever as they ventured deeper into the unknown.