The next few weeks at Duskbrook keep Brycen busy. Patrols are long, reports are constant, and training the town militia takes up most of his energy. The Paladins are focused on fortifying the town’s defenses, preparing for any future attacks, and ensuring the safety of the border. By day, Brycen’s mind is occupied with duty—checking supply routes, overseeing the militia’s drills, and ensuring the town is prepared for anything.

But at night, when the barracks are quiet and the flickering lanterns cast long shadows on the walls, Brycen’s mind drifts elsewhere. No matter how exhausted he is after a day’s work, sleep does not come easily. Instead, his thoughts inevitably wander back to the small cottage nestled deep in the woods, and the enigmatic healer who had saved his life.

He lay in bed, staring up at the dark wooden beams of the ceiling, listening to the snores of the other soldiers in the barracks. His body might be worn out, but his mind is restless. He keeps picturing those amethyst eyes, the way they glow faintly in the firelight. He remembers the warmth of Kaylin’s voice, the gentle touch of their hands as they’d tended to his injuries. The soft moments they shared over quiet dinners, the way the world had seemed to slow down during that week in the cottage.

It hadn’t been enough time. He's barely scratched the surface of who Kaylin is.

There are so many questions swirling in his mind, questions that he didn’t even realize he had while he was there. Is Kaylin really a mage? If so, why hadn’t they told him? Didn't they trust him enough to open up about that part of their life?  No matter how close he feels to Kaylin, he reminds himself that they only spent one week together.  And, if they really are an Omega, how had they come to live such an isolated life? And why?

The more Brycen thinks about it, the more he wants to know. He wants to understand Kaylin. He wants to break through the walls they have so carefully built around themselves. But more than anything, Brycen realizes, he just wants to see them again. To be in their presence. To feel the calm and warmth that seems to radiate from them, even in the midst of his confusion and uncertainty.

He rolls over onto his side, staring out the small window at the moonlit night beyond. The barracks are far from peaceful- filled with the scent of too many men and women and the sounds of restless tossing and turning- but in his mind, he is back at the cottage, sitting by the hearth with Kaylin. He can almost smell the herbal scents that fill the air, mixing with the ever-present smell of bread in the oven, the faint crackling of the fire in the hearth, the way Kaylin moves around the room with a quiet grace.

The ache in his chest grows stronger every night. He tells himself he has responsibilities- he is a Paladin, after all. His duty is here in Duskbrook, ensuring the town is safe, working alongside Soren and the others to keep the border secure. He can’t just up and leave because of a... crush. And yet, that’s exactly what he wants to do. It doesn’t feel like just a crush- it is more than that. He feels drawn to Kaylin, pulled toward them by something deeper than simple attraction.  It's unlike anything he's ever experienced.

It's not like Brycen has never had crushes before.  It's not like he's never been in relationships.  This is different, somehow.  He's never met anyone who he's felt such an immediate attraction towards.

Brycen knows he has to return, and not just for the guise of returning the horse. He can’t leave things the way they are. Maybe Kaylin isn’t ready to open up, but that doesn’t change the fact that Brycen needs to see them again. To know that they are okay, to feel that calm in his heart that only seems to come when he was around them.

Maybe he will get answers. Maybe not. But Brycen knows that his feelings- whatever they are- aren’t going to fade just because he is trying to bury them under his duties. If anything, they are growing stronger, more insistent, with each passing day.

It isn’t until the third week in Duskbrook that Brycen finds himself with a window of opportunity. The town is quiet, the patrols have been routine, and the militia is functioning well on its own. Aaron has given the group a brief reprieve, allowing them a few days of rest. It is exactly what Brycen needs- time to think, time to act.

But as he prepares to leave, Aaron catches up with him. “Heading out somewhere?” Aaron asks, eyeing him with mild suspicion.

Brycen hesitates for a moment. He hasn’t told anyone but Soren about his connection to Kaylin, and he isn’t sure how Aaron will react if he did. Kaylin is Aaron’s sibling, after all, and while Aaron had seemed appreciative of their care, his overprotectiveness could complicate things.

“Yeah,” Brycen says casually, adjusting the straps on his saddle. “I’m going to return that horse I borrowed.”

Aaron’s expression flickers with something unreadable. “You mean Tria?”

Brycen nods. “I figured it’s about time I brought her back.”

Aaron’s eyes narrow slightly, and for a moment, Brycen thinks he might question him further. But then Aaron shrugs, turning his gaze toward the horizon. “I’m sure she’ll be glad to have her horse back,” he said, his tone carefully neutral. “Don’t stay away too long. We’ve got more training scheduled in a couple of days.”

“I won’t,” Brycen promises, though a part of him wishes he can stay at Kaylin’s for far longer than a simple return trip.  This isn't the time for that, however.  He needs to see what Kaylin is feeling.  He needs to see what he is feeling.

As he mounts Tria and calls his own horse to trot alongside, and sets off down the path toward the woods, Brycen feels a sense of anticipation building in his chest. The ride through the forest is peaceful, the trees casting long shadows over the trail as the sun begins to dip toward the horizon. The familiar sights and sounds of the woods helps ease some of his tension, though his heart still races with the thought of seeing Kaylin again.

Will they be glad to see him? Or will they be guarded, distant, like they had been when he first arrived at the cottage? Will they just ask for his horse back and expect him to immediately turn back to Duskbrook?  Brycen isn’t sure. But he hopes, more than anything, that Kaylin will let him in, even if it is just for a little while.

By the time Brycen reaches the clearing, the sun is low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the small cottage. His heart leaps when he sees Kaylin outside, tending to the small herb garden in front of the house. They are kneeling by one of the beds, their fingers carefully pruning the plants, their face partially hidden by the brim of their wide-brimmed hat and their face mask.

Brycen dismounts, taking a deep breath to steady himself before approaching. His boots crunch softly on the gravel as he walks toward the garden, the horses following, and Kaylin looks up at the sound, their amethyst eyes widening slightly in surprise.

“Brycen,” they say softly, standing up and dusting their hands off on their apron. “I didn’t expect you back so soon.”

Brycen gives them a small smile, trying to keep his nerves in check. “I thought I’d return Tria,” he says, gesturing to the mare behind him. “And... maybe see how you are doing.”

Kaylin hums in a thoughtful manner, though their eyes remain cautious. “I’m fine,” they say, but there is a hint of something unspoken in their voice.

Brycen nods, not wanting to push too hard too soon. “Can I stay for a bit?” he asks, his voice quieter now.

Kaylin hesitates for a moment, their eyes flicking toward the cottage. But then they nod, stepping aside to gesture toward the door. “Come inside. I was just about to make tea.  I have stew on the stove, if you'd like to stay for dinner.”

Brycen’s heart soars. It isn’t much, but it is something. A chance. As they both head inside, Brycen can’t help but hope that this visit will be the first step toward finding the answers he’s been searching for. But even if it isn’t, just being near Kaylin again feels like exactly what he needs.

---

Brycen breathes deeply as he steps inside the cottage- the scent of herbs, woodsmoke, and something distinctly Kaylin filling his lungs. It is like the world just clicks into place- everything feels right here, like the chaos of the outside world can't touch them within these walls.

The cottage is just as cozy as he remembers, the warmth of the fire crackling in the hearth adding to the comfortable, lived-in feel. It is small, yes, but in a way that feels intentional, like every piece of furniture and every object has a story behind it. He wishes he knew every story this small home had.  His eyes drift to the simple table by the window, where they’ve shared meals, and to the shelves filled with herbs and glass jars, neatly organized but overflowing with life. Just like Kaylin.

Brycen lets out a breath, trying to shake the tension that has followed him for weeks. Here, in Kaylin’s home, it is easier to relax, easier to be himself.

He watches as Kaylin moves gracefully through the small kitchen, the familiarity of their motions calming him further. They fill a kettle with water and set it on the stove before reaching up to pull down a jar of tea leaves from one of the shelves. Kaylin’s long, delicate fingers carefully unscrew the lid, the smell of the herbs drifting through the room, subtle and enticing.

"Some traders came through from Marinthia," Kaylin says, their soft voice breaking the quiet. "They had all sorts of herbs and spices I hadn't seen before. I'm excited to try this tea blend." There is a small spark of enthusiasm in their eyes, the first real brightness Brycen has seen since his arrival.

Brycen smiles, watching them move, the grace and care they put into every task. "I’m looking forward to it," he replies, his voice low but sincere. He finds himself grateful for the little things, like being here in this space again, seeing Kaylin in their element. The way Kaylin’s brow furrows slightly in concentration as they prepare the tea. The simple domesticity of it all makes something inside Brycen soften.

Kaylin glances at him for a moment, their amethyst eyes catching the light from the fire. They are unreadable, as always, but there is a warmth there, a familiarity that reassures him.

“You’ve been busy,” Kaylin says after a pause, turning back to the kettle. “Duskbrook is doing well?”

Brycen nods, running a hand through his hair as he takes a seat at the small table. “Yeah. It’s been... a lot of work, but the town’s safe. The militia is shaping up well, and Aaron’s been... well, Aaron,” he adds with a small chuckle.

Kaylin’s cheeks twitch, indicating their amusement from beneath the mask. “That’s good to hear.” They pause, fiddling with the jar of tea for a moment before adding, “You didn’t have to come all this way just to return the horse.”

Brycen’s heart skips slightly. Kaylin’s tone was gentle, but he can sense the unspoken question behind the words. Why did you come back?  He shifts in his seat, feeling the weight of the conversation pressing down on him. He has told himself he’d come to return Tria, but the truth was, that isn’t the reason at all.

“I didn’t want to stay away,” Brycen admits, his voice quieter now, more vulnerable than he intended. He meets Kaylin’s gaze, hoping they can understand the depth of what he is trying to say, even if he can’t find the words for it.

Kaylin’s eyes soften slightly, but they don’t say anything. Instead, they turn back to the kettle, pouring the steaming water over the leaves and letting the scent of the tea bloom in the air. For a moment, there is only the soft clink of the teapot and the crackle of the fire.

“I guess I’m still not used to... this,” Kaylin says after a long pause, their voice quieter now, more contemplative. “Having someone come back.”

Brycen’s chest tightens at the quiet admission, the weight of it settling between them. He hasn’t realized how much his presence might mean to Kaylin, how deeply it might affect them. But he does know one thing—he doesn’t want to be someone who leaves Kaylin behind. He doesn’t want to be like the others who have left them alone in this cottage.

He clears his throat, searching for the right words. “I... I’m not like the others, Kaylin,” he says softly. “I don’t plan on just disappearing.”

Kaylin doesn’t respond right away, their focus on carefully pouring the tea into two small handmade mugs, the steam rising between them. They set the cups down on the table, one in front of Brycen, and take a seat across from him. The firelight flickers in their eyes as they look at him, their expression still guarded but... softer, somehow.

“Maybe not,” Kaylin says after a long moment, their voice barely above a whisper. “But I’ve learned not to expect much. It’s easier that way.”

Brycen swallows hard, the weight of their words hitting him like a punch to the gut. He can see it now- the loneliness that has surrounded Kaylin, the way they’ve built this life of solitude, not just out of necessity, but as a form of protection. Protection from the world. Protection from being hurt again.

And here he is, wanting to be part of their life, but not sure if he can even begin to unravel the layers of trauma and caution that Kaylin has wrapped around themselves.

But he wants to try.

“Maybe it doesn’t have to be that way,” Brycen says quietly, his hand instinctively reaching out across the table. His fingers brush Kaylin’s, a small, tentative gesture, but one that speaks volumes. “I mean, you can expect something from me... if you want to.”

Kaylin looks down at their touching fingers, their breath catching slightly. They don’t pull away. Instead, they let Brycen’s hand rest over theirs, a quiet acceptance in the gesture.

The silence stretches between them, comfortable now, filled with unspoken promises.

Maybe it won’t be easy. Maybe there are still questions, still secrets, still so much about each other that they don’t know. But in this moment, with the warmth of the tea and the flickering fire, and their hands gently intertwined on the table, it feels like something real. Something worth holding on to.

Kaylin lifts their eyes to meet Brycen’s, their gaze steady now, the hint of a smile in their eyes.

“Let’s start with tea,” they say softly.

Brycen smiles, his heart swelling with a quiet joy. “Tea sounds perfect.”