Though the ride back to Duskbrook gives Brycen plenty of time to fantasize and reminisce about the past week, as soon as he arrives in the town, it's straight back to work mode. The familiar weight of duty settles on his shoulders the moment he dismounts, but not before he ensures that Tria is taken care of in the best stable Duskbrook has to offer. The mare was Kaylin's gift to him, in more ways than one, and he wants to show his gratitude by treating her well. 

Once that's settled, Brycen makes his way through the town, grateful to see the familiar faces of his comrades. Everyone is all well and healthy, their smiles a balm to his spirit after the chaos of the attack. The fact that they hadn't lost anyone was a testament to Aaron's strong leadership. 

"The Paladin returns triumphant!" Lyra teases, smirking as she pats his arm. "Good to see you up and moving again, Vardell. We were all worried about you." 

Brycen chuckles, feeling the warmth of camaraderie wash over him. "Glad to see you all in one piece as well." 

As he greets each of them, relief spreads through him like a quiet tide. There had been no other attacks since he had been recovering at Kaylin's cottage, which was fantastic news. Still, the tension from their prior encounter lingers in the air, even as the town itself tries to resume some semblance of normalcy. 

After a while, the routine of catching up with his comrades begins to dull the edge of excitement that thrummed in his veins. Brycen exchanges reports with Aaron, overseeing their recent patrols and hearing about the militia's efforts to improve defenses. Yet, even though he's physically present, his mind keeps drifting back to the quiet moments at the cottage- watching Kaylin tend to their garden, the soft murmur of Kaylin's voice, the way the world had felt just a little bit smaller and safer in their presence.

 Soren, ever observant, seems to notice his shift. After most of the formalities are handled, he gives Brycen a knowing look and motions him aside to a quieter corner of the square.

 "Hey, man, are you sure you're okay? You seem...distracted, or something," Soren says as soon as they are out of earshot from the others. His voice is laced with genuine concern. "I know you're back to your usual duties, but... I mean... that attack was brutal. And you were gone for a week. If you need more time-"

 Brycen shakes his head. "I'm fine." 

Soren gives Brycen a doubting look, studying Brycen's face. "You're not. Is it just the attack? Is it something else?" 

Brycen's lips press into a thin line. He has always been good at compartmentalizing, at keeping his personal struggles buried beneath the surface. But his best friend has always had a way of prying those things loose. "Both," he admits, his shoulders slumping. "I... I guess it's just been a lot. The attack, my recovery, Kaylin-"

 "Kaylin?" Soren asks, eyebrows shooting up. 

Brycen curses inwardly. He hadn't meant to slip up and mention Kaylin by name, especially so casually. His friend is much too intuitive. "The healer," Brycen clarifies awkwardly, his face growing a little warmer. "Healer Eilaro. Their name is Kaylin." 

Soren's expression softens. "I see. Sounds like something more developed. What happened last week between the two of you?"

Brycen sighs, running a hand through his hair. "It's complicated. They're... I don't know, different. And I don't just mean because they saved my life. There's something about them. I don't know."

 Soren studies him for a long moment before nodding. "You've been through a lot, Bry. And it's not weak to admit that. Hells, you've never really been good at taking breaks, have you?" 

Brycen chuckles darkly. "I'm a Paladin. We don't get to take breaks." 

"No," Soren agrees. "But you're also human. And whatever's going on, whether it's with this healer or something else, don't push it away just because you feel like you don't deserve to rest or be happy."

Brycen looks at his friend, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Soren always has a way of grounding him, reminding him of what is important. "Thanks," Brycen says softly. "I'll think about it." After a moment of consideration, he adds, "Kaylin invited me back to their cottage. To return their horse," he adds hastily. 

That makes Soren smirk. "Uh huh."

Brycen glares at his friend, who just gives him a grin but holds his hands up in a passive, 'I give' sort of gesture. Then, with that same playful grin, Soren gently shoves Brycen on the shoulder. "Who knew you'd go soft on some mage though?" Soren teases.

 Brycen blinks, confusion replacing the warm flush that had been in his chest. "Mage?" he repeats, his brow furrowing. 

Soren tilts his head, surprised that Brycen hadn't put it together yet. "Well, yeah," he says, pointing at his own eyes with two fingers. "Her eyes, man. Dead giveaway." 

Brycen's mind whirls. *Their eyes?* he thinks, sifting through his memories of Kaylin. He distinctly remembers the amethyst hue of Kaylin's eyes- they are basically seared into his mind. How they seemed to shift in the firelight, deep and otherworldly. But he never thought of them as a mage's mark. There were plenty of people with unusual eye colors... right? 

Vaguely, Brycen recalls his lessons at the Academy, back when they'd been drilled on identifying all types of threats. Mages, especially. One of their key features? Violet eyes, always faintly aglow with magic. Brycen thinks back to his time with Kaylin. In the evenings, by the hearth, how they flickered softly in the dim light. He had written it off as just a trick of the fire, but now... now it made sense. It wasn't just the light playing tricks on him. It was Kaylin's magic. 

He swallows hard. "I...I suppose that could explain why they're such a good healer," he says slowly, trying to piece together the puzzle of Kaylin's identity in his mind. 

Soren crosses his arms, giving Brycen a knowing look. "Exactly. You didn't notice? I mean, you were living with her for a week, Bry. You know mages usually work alone for a reason, right? They like their solitude... for good reasons." 

Brycen frowns, feeling a bit guilty for not realizing sooner. He hadn't thought to question Kaylin's desire for solitude- he'd assumed it was personal, maybe related to their status as an Omega, or their cautious nature around Alphas. Mages are labeled as dangerous, outside of the laws of nature. Nothing about Kaylin seemed dangerous to him- those amethyst eyes were always so kind. 

The idea of Kaylin possibly being a mage doesn't bother him the way it might have others. He's worked with Paladin mages in the past, and found their magic incredibly useful. And if anything, it explained so much- the calm precision with which Kaylin healed, the way their touch seemed to soothe his pain in a way that felt almost... supernatural. 

"Maybe you were enchanted by her," Soren jokes, nudging his ribs with his elbow. Brycen gives him a look of doubt. "Just saying. Even Aaron seemed enchanted by her. The way he talked about her on the ride back was almost...protective."

 Brycen's stomach tightens at that. Protective, yes, but not for the reasons his friend was thinking. In the eyes of society, Kaylin was doubly vulnerable- an Omega Mage. That combination likely fueled Aaron's overprotective instincts as their brother, but it didn't make it right. That protectiveness had crossed into something more. Something suffocating. The way Aaron had spoken to Kaylin, it was like he had been trying to dominate his older sibling. 

Soren gives him another nudge. "I can see the gears turning in your head, Bry. What's up?" 

Brycen exhales slowly, feeling the weight of this new revelation settle over him. "I just... I didn't know. They never mentioned anything about being a Mage. It's not something they share openly, I guess." 

Soren shrugs. "I mean most don't, not unless they have to. It's safer that way. I've even heard of some that will drink potions to change their eyes so they can hide better, not that most of the population would know the link between Mages and their eyes." 

Brycen nods, his mind still racing. The pieces are starting to fall into place, but with each answer came more questions. Did Kaylin avoid telling him because they didn't trust him? He wouldn't know they were an Omega, either, if he hadn't overheard that argument. Was it too dangerous to share those parts of themselves? Was Kaylin performing some kind of magic on him that he didn't know about? The layers of secrets between them seemed to grow deeper, and it leaves Brycen feeling unsettled. He doesn't know what he's getting himself into, but one thing is clear: Kaylin has more to hide than he even realized. How many more secrets lie beneath those entrancing amethyst eyes? 

Soren must notice the tension growing in Brycen's face, because he sighs. "Look, whatever's going through that thick head of yours, don't overthink it. I was joking about the whole enchantment thing, man. You like her, right? Mage or not...you seem pretty into her." 

Brycen snorts, though there's no humor in it. "Yeah... I do."

"Then stop doing the Brycen thing and trying to over-complicate everything. You're allowed to just like someone without knowing every little detail of her past. That can all come later, naturally."

Brycen nods, trying to take Soren's advice to heart. But it isn't just about liking Kaylin- it's about understanding them. And every piece of information makes Brycen realize just how little he really knows, like trying to hold sand with open fingers.

 

Soren claps him on the back again, then pushes away from the wall, his playful demeanor returning. "Anyway, I gotta get back to patrol. Try not to get all moody and brood over this, okay?"

 

"I don't brood," Brycen mutters, but Soren's laugh says otherwise. 

As his friend heads off, Brycen leans back against the tavern wall, staring off into the distance. His thoughts drift back to Kaylin- those soft violet eyes, their cautious manner, their quiet strength, living alone in that cottage in the woods. He has a lot to think about. But one thing that remains clear in his mind, no matter what, was that he wants to go back. To see Kaylin again. To figure this out. Maybe even get some answers for some of his questions, with time. Mage, Omega, whatever else... It doesn't matter. What matters is the connection he feels, and the way his heart had started to ache the moment he left that small cottage behind.

But for now, duty calls. 

With a heavy sigh- definitely not brooding- Brycen pushes off the wall and heads back towards the town square, where the others are waiting. He has a job to do. But in the back of his mind, Kaylin lingers like a quiet whisper, calling him back to a life he hadn't realized he wanted until now.