Stella entered the house and introduced herself to Mr. Sidra sitting at the table with a guest. Jack was just outside slipping off his boots.

"I have been told that you both caused quite a bit of ruckus today." Mr. Sidra chuckled. "Will you be joining us for the evening?"

"I am sorry I got Jack dragged into this. I am also sorry if I got you in trouble Mister," Stella said to a nervous Mathias.

"Mathias! What are you doing here?" Jack questioned while walking up give him a sturdy slap on the back.

"First you both should take a seat. Get Miss Stella something to drink, son," Mr. Sidra calmly reminded him of his manners.

"The entire thing with the military today...I am so sorry by the way Miss Stella. I didn't like what happened... I never know what to do in situations... I feel like I didn't belong... I am really sorry again and to you as well Jack." Mathias fumbled through, controlling his breath in waves.

"Just breathe, it is ok." Jack placed his hand on Mathias's shoulder. Mathias took a deep breath and started again.

"I came to say sorry to you both after the situation, but Mr. Sidra told me that you went to Mr. Ace's house to discuss something. He told me to wait for you here and he wanted to talk to me. I am not sure if you noticed but I am not really cut out for the military." Everyone at the table tried not to give the impression that he stated the obvious. "I am from a small village as well and I never had much talent in anything. The government kept switching my jobs until I decided to join the military. Mr. Sidra told me today that he would take me in as an apprentice and help me turn blacksmithing into a career."

"That is great! I think you will fit in here. We will be working together. I'm pretty excited now." Jack smiled from ear to ear. He was always worried about Mathias. Stella kicked Jack under the table. He didn't understand why he deserved that but followed her glance over to his dad.

"I think you are missing the point, Son. It is all good and well if you want to stay here, but you have the opportunity of a lifetime," Mr. Sidra slowly spoke. It seemed like he was speaking with a form of authority but also a lot of warmth.

"Ace told you about the situation?" Jack asked quietly, processing that he might have just been replaced.

"Me and Mathias will be fine. I can still manage. You have read so many books, you have explored everything in this village, don't you think you should take this chance to see more." The eye contact was strictly between Father and Son. The room was silent, but the other two were deeply invested in the response.

"Dad... are you sure?"

"You are extremely helpful. Everyone in the village always talks about it. A quest that lets you see and save the world. It sounds like it is forged for you. I will be alright, so see as much as you can and decide what you want from it."

"Thank you very much." Jack quietly held back.

The rest of the night was filled with laughs, stories, and merriment. There was the lingering feeling that they had more to discuss about the previous situation, but it never happened. Stella figured that Mr. Sidra was a man of few words and chose the words he wanted to use already. The more time passed the harder it felt to bring it back up until they finally decided to go to sleep. Stella took Jack's room while Jack and Mathias made camp on sheets in the living room downstairs, but Jack couldn't sleep. He stepped outside and sat on the ground staring at the stars. He was startled when the door opened behind him to reveal Stella couldn't sleep well either.

"Am I interrupting?" Stella whispered before shutting the door.

"Just your own sleep cycle." They both looked to the distance. "What is keeping you up? I figured you would be exhausted after today."

"I think it was just the family atmosphere had me thinking about Luna. I really want to find her. To be honest my thoughts were all over the place. Ace says a dragon is coming soon. Dragons have been dead for hundreds of years so I can't even imagine what is going to happen."

"That is exactly what kept me awake. Ace made it sound so light-hearted, but I think that is just how he is. The world can be in serious trouble, but I think I am just going to have to trust him. Will you come with me tomorrow to see him, before you leave?" Stella nodded in agreement while the pair spent a couple more minutes gazing into the future.