Nova's gaze drifted back to the Guardian's Embrace. Golden runes shimmered beneath its surface, pulsing gently.

"I felt bad about leaving Millie without any protection, so I made this amulet for her," he said, carefully lifting the pendant.

Anny looked at it, raising her eyebrows. "Oh, that's the mithril I got for you. What does it do?"

"It has two protective effects, one barrier and one magical armor," Nova explained, turning the amulet to show her how the light played across its surface. "And if she's hurt at all, or someone intends to hurt her, she's teleported to a place a few kilometers away. The effect needs to recharge for an entire week, though."

"Wow! That's an amazing amulet, then! Good thinking!" She leaned back, crossing her arms with a satisfied nod.

Nova smiled, glad to see she was just as eager to protect Millie as he was. "It's also meant as a gift to make it easier to leave her," he admitted, setting the amulet back on its silk bed. "I doubt she'll accept it still, but at least it's something."

"...She just has to learn that we're different. Better now than later." She glanced toward the workshop door, as if she could see through it all the way back to Quinn's shop where Millie slept.

"Yeah, that's true…"

Nova sighed, suddenly wondering what their lives would look like if the world were already a perfect place. Maybe they would live every day in peace—him crafting equipment for some adventurers, Anny finding a dancing instructor and showing the world what she could do, and Millie spending every day together with them, learning everything she wanted to.

'It's a life I'd love to live… But unfortunately, there is far too much evil in the world. And, as I told Quinn, the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. It could even be why I was born here in the first place.'

"What are these rings?" Anny asked, breaking the moment of reflection. She picked up one of the solium bands, holding it up to the forge light.

"They're for us," Nova replied, watching as she turned the ring between her fingers. "If you see the system info, you'll understand why they would be useful."

Anny's eyes widened as she read the invisible text. "Oooh! Communication rings! These would be great while we're fighting! Or if we're exploring a city together."

"Exactly. They won't be very useful before we start going into the dungeon together, but once we do…"

"Yeah, sounds great! Should I just pick one? I wanna test how they work!" She was already sliding the ring onto her middle finger, where it adjusted itself perfectly to fit.

"Sure, I'll take the other one." Nova picked up the remaining ring, feeling the enchantments hum against his skin as he slipped it on. The metal was cool at first, then warmed quickly to match his body temperature.

(Can you hear this?) she asked, looking at him intently.

(Yes, I can hear you. This will take some getting used to.)

(It's pretty easy to do. We can even communicate while talking to others!)

(Yeah, there are many interesting uses. But if you're planning to wear them constantly, you're going to tell me something you don't want me to hear, guaranteed.)

(Speaking from experience?) A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes.

(I usually do.)

"This is so cool!" Anny exclaimed, grinning widely as she looked down at the ring. "And I can sense your location as well. A ten-kilometer radius should cover almost the entire city."

"Yeah, even if we stand on the edges. It's a useful enchantment for sure."

"Well then, you need some proper rest before we leave. Let's go back to Quinn's. Millie might still be up, just waiting for you."

"Oh… Well, let's hope she has spent too much energy in school to wait up. I'll give her the amulet before we leave tomorrow."

'Maybe that will placate her a bit.'

The next morning, everyone in the house had joined the breakfast table. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting warm patches across the wooden floor. Quinn had outdone himself, preparing a feast of smoked fish, freshly baked bread, and seasonal fruits.

Nova watched as Millie eagerly reached for her third piece of bread. Her cheeks were puffed with food, and her eyes sparkled with the simple joy of a good meal. He felt a twist in his chest, knowing what was to come.

"This is amazing, Quinn!" Anny said between bites. "You should open a restaurant instead of just selling raw fish."

Quinn chuckled. "I've thought about it, but the early mornings at the market keep me honest." He glanced at Millie with affection. "Besides, I'd rather cook for a smaller audience these days."

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Nova set down his cup, meeting Anny's eyes briefly. There was no point in delaying the inevitable. "Millie, we need to talk about something."

The girl paused mid-bite, looking up at him. Something in his tone made her lower her bread. "What is it?"

"Anny and I are leaving today," Nova said, keeping his voice gentle. "We're going to the dungeon in Bergrott."

Millie's face fell. Her small fingers clutched the edge of the table. "But I'm coming too, right? You said I could help!"

"Not this time." Nova shook his head. "The dungeon is too dangerous. You need to stay here with Quinn."

"But I'm strong!" Millie protested. "I can fight! You saw my spell!"

"It's not about being strong enough." Nova reached across the table to touch her hand. "It's about being ready. The dungeon tests more than just power."

Tears welled in Millie's eyes. "You're lying. You just don't want me there."

"Millie—" Quinn started, but Nova raised a hand to stop him.

"I have something for you." Nova reached into his pocket and pulled out the Guardian's Embrace. The amulet sparkled beautifully in the sunlight, showing off the natural colors of the mythril and the golden runes around it. "This is a special amulet I made for you."

Millie stared at the mithril pendant, momentarily distracted from her anger. "What does it do?"

"It will keep you safe." Nova held it out for her to see. "If anyone tries to hurt you, it creates a barrier. And if that's not enough, it will teleport you away to safety."

"Really?" Millie's eyes widened, but her voice still held a hint of anger.

Nova nodded. "I made it using the mithril that Anny found. It's very powerful, stronger than anything else I've created." He leaned forward, meeting her gaze. "But you have to promise me something, Millie."

"What?" She didn't reach for the amulet yet, still looking wary.

"Promise me you'll wear it all the time. Never take it off, not even to sleep." Nova's voice grew serious. "And if it ever activates, go straight to Larena at the academy. Can you promise me that?"

Millie's lower lip trembled. "But why can't I just come with you instead?"

Anny set down her fork. "Millie, this is our first exploration of a dungeon. We don't know what we'll find there. If something happened to you..." She trailed off, glancing at Nova.

"We need to know you're safe," Nova continued. "How can we focus on fighting monsters if we're worried about protecting you?"

A tear slipped down Millie's cheek. "But I'll miss you."

"We'll miss you too," Nova said, feeling his own throat tighten. "But we'll come back. I promise. And we'll have all kinds of stories to tell you."

"And gifts," Anny added. "The best ones we can find."

Quinn, who had remained silent, finally spoke. "Millie, sometimes the bravest thing isn't fighting. It's waiting." His large hand covered hers. "We'll keep everything just as it is for when they return."

Millie wiped her eyes with her sleeve, considering their words. "How long will you be gone?"

Nova and Anny exchanged glances. "We don't know exactly. Maybe a few weeks. But not longer than a couple of months."

Millie's shoulders slumped. It was clear she wasn't happy, but the fight seemed to drain out of her. She extended her hand toward the amulet. "I promise I'll wear it."

Nova smiled, feeling both relief and sadness. He stood and moved around the table, standing beside her chair. With gentle hands, he fastened the Guardian's Embrace around her neck. The mithril glowed slightly against her skin, recognizing its wearer.

"There," he said softly. "Now you carry a piece of my protection with you."

He wasn't prepared for Millie to throw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. Her small body trembled as she buried her face against his shoulder. "You better come back," she whispered fiercely.

"I will," Nova promised, returning her embrace. "We both will."

Anny joined them, placing a hand on Millie's back. "You keep practicing your magic while we're gone. Maybe when we return, you'll be ready to show us something new."

Millie pulled back from Nova, turning to hug Anny just as tightly. "I'll practice every day. I'll get so good you'll have to take me next time."

"...We'll see." Anny's voice was gentler than Nova had ever heard it. She stroked Millie's blonde hair, seeming unusually moved. "Be good for Quinn, okay?"

Quinn watched the scene quietly. It looked like he was feeling Millie's sadness as his own. "Don't worry about anything here. Everything is in good hands. You two just focus on coming back in one piece."

Nova nodded. "We've packed everything we need. The cathedral should be waiting for us."

Millie clung to Anny's hand. "Are you leaving right now?"

Anny took her hand in both of hers. "We have to if we want to get there early. And there's a lot to learn."

Nova walked over to the stairway and pulled up a backpack already fully prepared. It was quite heavy, containing a full set of armor and some forging equipment in addition to the usual supplies for expeditions. "Be good, Millie. Remember what I said about when you can use your spells."

"...I remember." Her voice was low as she leaned her head sideways against the back of the chair.

Anny let go of her hand and found her own backpack, nearly as heavy as Nova's. "Well, we're leaving, then."

Suddenly, Millie jumped off the chair and ran up to Nova, grabbing his arm. Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks despite her obvious effort to hold them back. "I still don't want you to go!"

"I know. But sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do, because they're necessary."

"Will you think about me?" she asked, her voice small.

"Every day," Nova promised. He gently touched the amulet at her throat. "And every time you touch this, think of us. Think of me checking on you through it, making sure you're safe."

Millie threw her arms around him one last time. "Be careful," she whispered. "Don't let the monsters eat you."

Nova chuckled softly. "I won't. I promise."

When she released him, Anny stepped forward for her own goodbye. She took both of Millie's hands in hers. "Take care of Quinn for us, will you? Make sure he doesn't work too hard."

Millie nodded solemnly. "I will."

Nova and Anny finally stepped out of the shop, shouldering their packs. As they walked down the street, Nova couldn't help throwing a final glance back. Millie stood in the window with a small hand pressed against the glass.

'...It will be good for her to be without us for a while. I'll just have to keep telling myself that.'

"That was harder than I expected," Anny said once they were alone.

"It always is," Nova replied, putting his hands around the backpack straps. "Leaving people behind."

"At least she has Quinn," she said, glancing back towards the store. "And Larena not far away."

"Yes." Nova nodded, grateful for the network of support they had built. "She'll be fine. And so will we."

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