Hours later, they reached the seaside village of Mare, offering a welcome respite from the ravaged town they had left behind. The air carried the taste of salt, and the mesmerizing sound of waves crashing against the cliff’s edge filled their ears as the wind lashed at them. The wind blew with intensity, battering their faces. White rocks marked the path inward.

“Kyla, you’ll blow away if you’re not careful,” said Alec. There was amusement in his voice as he gently teased her.

“I’ll keep holding onto Jaycee then,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck with a grin. She was as light as a breeze.

Alec glared back at her, his fan covering half of his face. “Watch where you put those dirty hands of yours.”

“Your ugly is showing.” Kyla stuck her tongue out and tightened her grip on Jaycee.

“Child, come here and say that to my face.”

“I don’t mind,” Jaycee said. He felt that if he remained silent, their bickering would persist for hours. They acted like siblings, always quarreling. He might have found it amusing if he didn’t constantly find himself caught in the middle as the target of their arguments.

“See? Now we’re friends. That’s what happens when you leave us behind to enjoy yourself, and we’re left to fend for ourselves. It’s brought us even closer together.”

Jaycee was certain that wasn’t how friendship worked. However, he had few friends, as he avoided people altogether. In his profession, people had more acquaintances than genuine friends. If they didn’t perish on a mission, they would eventually betray their comrades or meet their end at the hands of those they held dear.

Alec slung an arm around Jaycee, shooting a piercing glare at his companion. “Let’s settle this with janken. The winner determines who is correct and earns bragging rights.”

“Bring it on. You’ve messed with the wrong girl; I’m a master at this game.”

Jaycee felt the weight on him lessen as she extended her hands, readying herself for the game ahead.

As he stood there and watched, he grew increasingly worried, his mind racing with wild scenarios of them seriously fighting afterwards.

As Alec turned his head, strands of black hair brushed against Jaycee’s cheek, igniting a warm sensation in his chest.

“You’re on,” Alec said.

This had continued for too long already.

“Alright, that’s enough. I know that I’m quite a hot commodity over here, but—”

“Don’t get involved!” They both spoke up, surprising him.

What seemed like an hour had passed before they reached the Blacksmith’s.

After being defeated by Alec, Kyla sulked all the way, intentionally avoiding any glance in his direction. Meanwhile, Alec walked with a newfound spring in his step, and it required a great deal of self-control for Jaycee not to roll his eyes.

A strange thought struck him then—he was growing comfortable, and that very comfort unnerved him.

Upon reaching the entrance, they saw a familiar face standing outside, leaning against the front of the building.

“Leon!”