Fight Between Friends!

Jane walked through the winding corridors of Eclipsevane, her boots echoing softly against the stone floors. The halls were quieter than usual, the tension from the recent council meeting still lingering in the air. Despite everything, she knew one person who could lift her spirits—or at least distract her for a while.

As she reached the training yard, she spotted Eryon in his usual corner, his small frame darting back and forth as he practiced with a wooden training sword. He swung wildly, the blade wobbling in his grip, but his determination was unmistakable. A faint smile tugged at Jane's lips as she approached him.

"Still working on that form, huh?" she called out, leaning casually against a nearby post.

Eryon jumped, nearly dropping the sword, before spinning around to face her. His face lit up in a wide grin. "Jane! You're just in time! I was perfecting my overhead strike!"

Jane chuckled, crossing her arms. "Perfecting, huh? Let's see it, then."

Eryon nodded eagerly, adjusting his stance with an exaggerated sense of focus. He raised the wooden sword high above his head and brought it down with all his might—only for the blade to clatter harmlessly to the ground as it slipped from his grip.

Jane bit her lip to stifle a laugh, but Eryon's sheepish expression was too much. She burst out laughing, the sound ringing out in the quiet yard.

"Hey, it's harder than it looks!" Eryon protested, crossing his arms and pouting.

"I'm sure it is," Jane teased, ruffling his messy hair as she walked over to pick up the sword. "But maybe don't hold it like it's covered in grease next time."

Eryon rolled his eyes, but his grin quickly returned. "You think you're so tough, huh? Why don't you show me how it's done?"

Jane raised an eyebrow, spinning the wooden sword in her hand. "Oh, you're challenging me now?"

"Yeah! Let's see if you've still got it," Eryon said, grabbing another practice sword and holding it up in a mock fighting stance.

Jane smirked, taking her own stance. "Alright, but don't cry when you lose."

The two circled each other, the tension playful but palpable. Eryon lunged forward, and Jane easily sidestepped, tapping his shoulder with the flat of her sword.

"Point for me," she said with a grin.

"Beginner's luck!" Eryon shot back, quickly resetting his stance.

Jane twirled the wooden sword in her hand, her strikes growing lighter as Eryon's swings became more erratic. The boy was putting all his effort into trying to land a hit, but Jane's calm dodges and occasional taps with her blade kept him at bay. Finally, after one particularly wild lunge, Eryon stumbled and fell flat on his back.

Jane extended a hand to help him up, laughing. "You're not bad, Eryon. Just a little too eager."

Eryon groaned, taking her hand. "I'll get you one of these days. Just you wait."

She chuckled and leaned the sword against the post. "I'll be ready for you."

As he dusted himself off, Eryon gave her a curious look. "Speaking of getting people… Where's Kael? I haven't seen him around lately. Did he finally find what he was looking for?"

Jane hesitated, her smile faltering just slightly before she quickly composed herself. "Yeah, he did," she said, trying to keep her tone casual. "He found what he came for and decided it was time to go home."

"Home?" Eryon tilted his head, his expression a mix of curiosity and disappointment. "I didn't even get to say goodbye. He didn't seem like the kind of guy to just up and leave."

Jane shrugged, her gaze drifting to the ground. "Kael's… complicated. He didn't really want a big farewell. He's the type to slip away quietly when the time feels right."

Eryon crossed his arms, his brows furrowing. "Well, that sucks. I liked him. He was a little weird, but he was cool."

Jane couldn't help but smile at that. "Yeah, he was cool, wasn't he?"

Eryon gave her a sidelong glance, sensing something in her voice. "You miss him, don't you?"

Jane stiffened for a moment, then nodded. "I do," she admitted softly. "But it's for the best. Kael needed to move on, and we need to keep going, too."

Eryon nodded solemnly, his usual playful demeanor fading. "Well, if you see him again, tell him I said thanks. He gave me some good advice when he was here."

Jane's heart clenched at the thought, but she forced herself to nod. "I will."

Eryon smiled faintly and leaned against the post, looking out at the training yard. "Do you think he's happy now? Wherever he is?"

Jane hesitated, her thoughts racing. Was Changra happy? She doubted it. How could he be, after everything he'd endured? But she didn't dare say that aloud. Instead, she gave a small, hopeful smile. "I think he's trying to be."

Eryon seemed satisfied with that answer, but Jane felt the weight of her words settle deep in her chest. As much as she wanted to believe them, she couldn't help but wonder if they were just as much for her own sake as they were for Eryon's.

"Come on," she said, changing the subject. "Let's grab something to eat before you wear yourself out completely."

Eryon perked up at that, his energy returning as he followed her toward the mess hall. But even as they walked, Jane's thoughts lingered on Kael—on Changra. The lies she'd told to protect him felt like a burden she couldn't shake, and the truth of his situation loomed over her like a storm waiting to break.

Jane and Eryon stepped into the mess hall, the air filled with the savory aroma of roasted meat and freshly baked bread. The chatter of guild members created a lively hum that seemed to lift Eryon's spirits. He darted ahead, spotting a table where a group of familiar faces waved him over.

"Come on, Jane!" Eryon called, grabbing an empty seat next to a young man with sandy blond hair. Jane followed, her gaze scanning the room as she tried to push the heavy thoughts from her mind.

At the table sat five guild members, their faces alight with camaraderie as they joked and passed around plates of food. The blond-haired man, who Jane recognized as Ronan, was already diving into a plate of stew. Across from him sat Ilysa, a petite woman with short, auburn hair and a mischievous grin. To her left was Harwin, a burly man with a booming laugh that shook the table whenever he spoke. Next to Harwin sat Selis, a quiet but sharp-eyed elf who always seemed to be observing more than she let on. Finally, at the end of the table was Gareth, an older member of the guild with a streak of gray in his hair and a dry wit that kept everyone on their toes.

"Look who decided to join us," Ronan said, grinning as Eryon plopped into his seat. "You didn't let her beat you too badly, did you?"

"Not at all!" Eryon shot back, puffing out his chest. "I'm just saving my energy for the next time."

Jane smirked, sliding into the seat beside him. "If by saving your energy, you mean falling flat on your back again, then sure."

The table erupted in laughter, and even Eryon couldn't help but join in, his cheeks flushing red.

"Jane, you've got a way of keeping him humble," Harwin said with a grin, passing a loaf of bread her way. "He needs it, trust me."

"I can hear you, you know," Eryon muttered, tearing into a piece of bread as the others laughed again.

"So, what's the plan for today?" Selis asked, her soft voice cutting through the noise. Her golden eyes flicked to Jane, curious but not prying.

"Just trying to survive Eryon's antics, honestly," Jane replied, earning a playful nudge from the boy. "What about you?"

"Routine patrol later," Selis said with a shrug. "But for now, I'm enjoying the peace while it lasts."

"Peace?" Ilysa chimed in, leaning back in her chair. "Have you seen the state of the guild lately? Half the members look like they haven't slept in days."

"That's because they haven't," Gareth said dryly, swirling his mug of tea. "Too much work and not enough rewards. If you ask me, we could use a bit more excitement."

"Excitement?" Harwin said, raising an eyebrow. "Careful what you wish for, old man. The last time you said that, we ended up waist-deep in a swamp fighting off wyverns."

The table erupted in laughter again, and Gareth smirked, unbothered by the teasing. Jane picked at her food, smiling faintly as the banter continued around her. For a moment, it was easy to pretend that everything was normal—that she wasn't carrying the weight of secrets too heavy to share.

As the conversation shifted to stories of past missions and playful jabs, Jane glanced at Eryon. He was laughing and chatting with Ronan, his earlier melancholy forgotten. She envied his ability to bounce back so quickly, to find joy in the moment even when the world felt like it was falling apart.

The laughter at the table continued, the camaraderie and light-hearted banter making it feel, if only for a moment, like the weight of the world had lifted. Jane watched as Harwin challenged Gareth to an eating contest, Ronan cheered them on, and Eryon mimicked exaggerated victory poses.

Selis leaned over, speaking just loud enough for Jane to hear. "It's nice, isn't it? A moment of peace."

Jane nodded, her smile faint but genuine. "Yeah, it is."

Despite the warmth of the scene, Jane couldn't fully shake the tension coiled in her chest. Her gaze drifted out of the corner of her eye to the door. Something felt off—like a string pulled too taut, ready to snap. She tried to focus on Eryon as he animatedly described some outlandish plan for a mission that would likely never happen, but her thoughts kept drifting.

The noise of the mess hall quieted as Jane caught sight of Elara entering the room. The guild leader's expression was calm but held an intensity that sent a chill through Jane. Elara's silver hair seemed to gleam in the flickering light, her gaze scanning the crowd until it landed on Jane.

"Jane," Elara said, her voice cutting through the din like a blade. The table went silent, all eyes shifting to the guild leader.

Jane stood slowly, her chair scraping against the floor. "What is it?"

"Come with me," Elara said, her tone leaving no room for argument. She turned and walked toward the exit without waiting for a response.

Jane glanced at Eryon, who looked concerned, and then at the others, who wore varying expressions of curiosity and unease. "I'll be back," she said, trying to sound confident. But even she didn't believe it.

Following Elara out of the mess hall, Jane's heart began to pound. She didn't ask where they were going—Elara's silence was enough to tell her it was serious. They walked through the dimly lit corridors of the guild, the air heavy with an unspoken tension.

Finally, Elara stopped in front of a door. She pushed it open, and Jane stepped inside.

The room was quiet, the faint sound of a magical hum filling the air. At the center, Changra lay on a cot, still unconscious, his features peaceful but hauntingly pale. Jane's chest tightened at the sight of him, memories of their time together flooding back.

Standing around the cot were Aria, Thorne, and Aetterus. Aria's expression was one of quiet concern, while Thorne, for once, looked serious, his usual jovial demeanor absent. Aetterus, however, wore his perpetual smirk, his hazel eyes gleaming with intrigue.

Jane stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "What's going on?"

Elara shut the door behind her and turned to face the group, her expression unreadable. "We need to talk about Changra."