Kaelen and Alarik waited for her just beyond the tent. Kaelen,despite his injury, stood with a posture betraying none of the pain she knew he must bear inside. The faint flicker of his Sunborn tattoo was barely visible in the starlight, its glow dimmed by exhaustion and the sandshrike venom. Alarik stood beside him, arms crossed over his chest, eyes scanning their surroundings with a watchful intensity.
Together, they moved silently toward the horses, steps muffled by the soft sand. Ember’s ears flicked as they approached, her dark eyes glinting in the dim light. Reiya reached out, her fingers brushing against the coarse mane of the horse she’d come to trust on their journey, whispering a quiet farewell. The animal nickered softly, a sound of familiarity and comfort.
As Reiya moved to secure her pack to Alarik’s horse, approaching footsteps startled them all. She turned sharply, heart racing, and found Xian Jun standing a few paces away.
His silhouette was etched against the pale light of the moon, his expression calm. For a long moment, none of them said a word. She swallowed hard, the lump in her throat making it difficult to speak.
Xian Jun’s perceptive gaze swept over them, his silence heavier than any words he could’ve spoken.
Reiya turned to face him. She hadn’t wanted to say goodbye—hadn’t been sure she could. But now, with him standing before them, the moment had arrived.
She parted her lips, searching for the right words.
But before she could speak, he exhaled—a quiet sigh that broke the stillness between them.
“I don’t know who you are, or why those men hunt you relentlessly.” His sharp eyes lingered on her for a heartbeat before softening. “I have my suspicions, but it doesn’t matter. The roads brought you into our lives, and now they will take you away. You’ve shared our fire, our paths, and our burdens. To us, you arefamily.”
Reiya’s chest tightened, her vision blurring as tears threatened to fall. His words were more than a farewell—they were proof that even in the harshest moments of her journey, she’d found kindness and belonging.
Xian Jun’s expression shifted slightly, a tenderness in his voice she’d only ever heard him use with Mei Mei. “You may leave, but you’llalways have a home here. If ever your path leads you back to us, we will welcome you.”
Kaelen stepped forward, his movements stiff as if to mask his pain. “Your hospitality has been a beacon of warmth in the midst of uncertainty, Xian Jun. May the sands of fortune always shift in your favour.”
Alarik inclined his head. “May Rokuyu guide you and loved ones, and may we meet again under brighter skies.”
She stared at Xian Jun, searching for words, but none felt worthy. How could language convey the gratitude swelling in her chest, or the quiet ache of knowing she owed more than she could ever repay?
So instead, she bowed, lower than she’d ever had in her life. A tear slipped free, warm against her cheek before falling softly to the sand.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything. I will never forget your kindness.”
Xian Jun nodded gravely, his gaze flicking to the mare.
“Take Ember,” he said. “It’s the least I can offer.”
She gasped, shaking her head. “But horses are precious resources. I can’t possibly?—”
“Borrowher, then,” Xian Jun interjected gently. “That way, you’ll have to visit us again. To return Ember.”
Reiya hesitated, then stepped closer, pulling a small pouch from her pack containing the coins she’d earned along the way. She pressed it into his hand, closing his fingers around it.
His mouth opened and she could almost hear the protest at the tip of his tongue.
But before he could refuse, she told him, “For Mei Mei.”
For a moment, the man remained still, fingers tightening around the pouch. Then, with a solemn nod, he tucked it into the folds of his clothing.
“Travel safely,” he said, his voice quieter now. “And may you find what you are searching for.”
As Xian Jun vanished into the shadows, Reiya lifted her gaze to the horizon. The stars burned bright above the vast desert, the cool breeze carrying the faint scent of the oasis—a memory she would keep, a reminder of the kindness she’d found here.
She rested a hand on Ember’s neck and glanced at Kaelen andAlarik. The path ahead wouldn’t be easy, but she had chosen it. Chosenthem.
With a smile, she said, “Let’s go. The road is waiting.”
Kaelen let out a soft laugh. “Spoken like a true Talharen.”
Alarik’s lips twitched. “Then let’s not keep it waiting.”
