The next day passed in a blur as the village of Brenden buzzed with activity. News had spread quickly that Adrian and his company would soon be departing, and the villagers, grateful for the protection and guidance they had received, were eager to help.

They moved, gathering supplies, packing provisions, and ensuring that the group had everything they needed for their journey back to Zarpha.

Adrian watched from a distance, arms folded as he observed the bustling preparations.

He appreciated the effort, but his mind was elsewhere—on the road ahead.

Medea approached, her calm presence drawing his attention. "The villagers are packing more supplies than we'll need," she noted as her sharp eyes scanned the scene. "I think they're trying to make up for the fact that we're leaving them."

Adrian nodded. "They're scared. They've only just started to rebuild, and now we're leaving."

"They'll be fine," Medea said firmly. "We've given them the tools. Roran will lead them, and Zarpha's reinforcements will provide support."

Adrian sighed, glancing at her. "I know. It's just… sometimes I wonder if we've done enough."

Though he was talking about Brenden, he couldn't help but think about his kingdom, Meridia. He couldn't help but think he could have done more. Maybe… just maybe, his kingdom would still be standing.

Medea's expression softened—just a fraction. "You've done more than enough. You can't save everyone, Adrian. But you're giving them the chance to stand on their own. That's all you can do."

He managed a small smile at that. "Thanks, Medea."

She nodded, and without another word, turned to oversee the final preparations.

*********************

The next day as soon as the first light appeared in the sky, the group began their journey. The villagers had gathered to see them off, offering quiet words of thanks and farewells. Roran, the new village leader, also stood by the gate to say his goodbyes.

Adrian gave him a firm nod. "You'll do well, Roran. Lead them wisely."

Roran straightened, trying to project confidence. "I'll do my best, Lord Adrian."

With that, Adrian and his companions set off into the morning light, the path to Zarpha ahead of them.

******************

On the second night of their journey, the group had set up camp under a canopy of stars. The fire crackled warmly in the center, casting a soft glow on their faces as they sat in a loose circle, relaxing after a day of travel.

Lilith, ever the mischief-maker, stretched lazily beside the fire, her dark eyes gleaming with amusement. "You know," she purred, "this journey would be a lot more fun if we had a game to pass the time."

Ava, who was meticulously polishing her daggers, raised an eyebrow. "A game? What kind of game?"

Lilith's lips curled into a playful smile. "Oh, something simple. A little 'get to know each other' game."

Adrian, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, glanced over at her with mild suspicion. "What are you up to, Lilith?"

Lilith winked at him. "Nothing devious, I promise. How about we play a game where we each share something about ourselves? Or…" Her grin widened. "We could each say what we love about you, Adrian."

Abyss, who had been quietly listening, immediately narrowed her eyes. "I don't see the point in this. It's obvious who loves him the most."

No one replied as they all glanced at each other. As if on cue, they all returned their gaze to Abyss.

"Uhmmm… me. I love him the most."

Lilith let out a delighted laugh. "Oh, come on, Abyss. Don't be such a killjoy. We all love him in our own way. Besides, it's not a competition."

"Sounds like a competition," Ava muttered under her breath, her eyes glinting with amusement as she continued sharpening her weapons.

Selene, who had been sitting quietly beside the fire, looked up with a shy smile. "I think it's a nice idea," she said softly. "It could be fun."

Lilith clapped her hands, clearly pleased with the support. "See? Even Selene thinks it's a good idea." She turned to Adrian, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "So, Adrian, shall we?"

Adrian rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Alright, fine. But let's keep it civil."

Lilith smirked, leaning back on her elbows. "Oh, don't worry. I'm always civil. So, who wants to go first?" she asked.

Without waiting for anyone to answer, Lilith sat up straight, clearly eager to take the lead in answering her own question. "I'll start," she declared with a dramatic flair. "What I love about Adrian is his ability to remain calm and composed, even when surrounded by such... powerful women." She flashed a playful smile at Abyss, who merely scowled in response.

"Your turn, Abyss," Lilith said with a teasing lilt.

Abyss crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing as if she were reluctant to participate. After a long moment, she finally spoke. "What I love about Adrian is his loyalty. He made a promise to me, and I know he'll keep it." Her possessive gaze flicked to Lilith as if daring her to challenge that claim.

Ava chuckled softly, her eyes never leaving her daggers. "What I love about Adrian?" she mused in a casual voice. "He knows how to negotiate. And he always delivers on a deal."

Adrian couldn't help but laugh at that. "I knew you'd say something like that."

"Of course," Ava replied with a smirk. "I'm nothing if not consistent."

Medea, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally chimed in. "What I appreciate," she said in her usual calm and measured voice, "is that Adrian doesn't let sentiment get in the way of making hard decisions. He knows what needs to be done, and he does it."

Lilith grinned, clearly enjoying herself. "And what about you, Selene? Surely you have something to say."

Selene blushed slightly under the attention, but her smile was genuine. "I… I love that Adrian always puts others first," she said softly. "He cares about people, even when he doesn't have to."

Adrian's heart softened at her words. Of all of them, Selene was the one with the purest heart, her kindness and compassion shining through even in the darkest of times.

The group fell into a comfortable silence after that, the fire crackling softly as the night deepened around them. The stars above seemed to shine a little brighter, their light reflecting off the nearby river that ran along the edge of their camp.

"So, Adrian," she purred, "we've all talked about what we love about you. But what about you? What do you like about each of us?"

Adrian raised an eyebrow, a mix of amusement and wariness crossing his features. "Oh no, Lilith. You're not getting me into that trap."

Lilith laughed. "Come on, we're all curious! You've heard what we think. It's only fair you return the favor."

Ava, who had now shifted her attention to her purse with keen eyes, glanced over with a smirk. "Yeah, Adrian, we'd all love to know. Don't hold back now."

Even Medea crossed her arms and gave Adrian an almost imperceptible nod. "I think we'd all like to hear it," she said in her calm, even voice, though there was a faint glimmer of interest in her eyes.

Abyss, who had been quietly simmering at Lilith's antics for days, gave an exaggerated sigh. "This is ridiculous. He's already made his choice—me. But go on, Adrian, humor them if you must."

Adrian sighed, feeling the pressure from all sides. He could see there was no escaping this, so he resigned himself to the inevitable. He leaned back, folding his arms, his eyes scanning each of them in turn.

"Alright," he said slowly, "but you asked for this."

He turned first to Lilith, who was watching him with barely contained excitement. "Lilith… I like your playfulness. You keep things light, even when everything else feels heavy. You have a way of making everyone laugh, and I appreciate that more than you know."

Lilith's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, and she gave a little wink. "See, I told you I'm irresistible."

Abyss rolled her eyes but stayed silent, watching intently as Adrian turned to her next.

"Abyss," Adrian began, his tone softening slightly, "you're fierce, and you're loyal to a fault. You never back down from a challenge, and while that can sometimes cause problems, it also means you're always by my side when it counts."

Abyss's eyes flickered with a possessive gleam as she absorbed his words. "Of course I am. You're mine."

Adrian moved on quickly before Abyss could press the point further. He turned to Ava, who was pretending to act disinterested but clearly paying attention.

"Ava… you're smart. Cunning, even. You always know how to navigate a situation, find the best angle. You're resourceful, and I've come to rely on that more than you probably realize."

Ava flashed him a sly grin. "Well, someone has to keep things profitable around here."

Finally, Adrian's gaze shifted to Medea, whose expression remained calm and unreadable. "Medea, you're the one who keeps me grounded. You're practical, you don't let emotions cloud your judgment, and you always have a plan. I trust your counsel more than anyone else's."

Medea gave a small nod, her respect for Adrian evident in her calm reply. "I'm here to ensure we succeed. That's all."

Lilith, clearly thrilled by Adrian's words, clapped her hands together. "See, that wasn't so hard, was it? And now we all know exactly where we stand."

Abyss, though still bristling with jealousy, gave a grudging nod. "It's good to know what's on your mind, Adrian."

Selene, who had been quiet throughout, looked up with a soft smile. "And what about me?" she asked timidly, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Adrian's expression softened as he looked at her. "Selene, you're kind. You bring a calmness that none of the others can. You always think of others first, and that's rare. It's something we all need, especially when the world feels like it's falling apart."

Selene's smile widened, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Thank you, Lord Adrian," she whispered, clearly touched.

The group fell into a comfortable silence after that, each of them absorbing Adrian's words in their own way. He cared for them in different ways and he was grateful to have them on his side.

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