good bye

Cior sat behind the curtain, her heart heavy with the weight of everything she had endured and achieved. When her four friends arrived, their formalities were palpable, a stark contrast to the easy camaraderie they once shared.

"You called us, Your Majesty," Amaias said, his voice steady but distant.

"I have a personal favor to ask," Cior replied softly. Her tone was different—gentler, almost pleading. For the first time in months, it wasn't laden with authority.

Their faces lit up at her words, a glimmer of the old friendship breaking through their carefully composed exteriors.

"Yes, please tell us," Arven said eagerly, his usual confidence returning for a moment.

Cior hesitated before stepping out from behind the curtain. She looked fragile, with dark circles under her eyes, her skin pale, and her once-vibrant presence dimmed by exhaustion. It was clear she hadn't been okay for a long time.

"Guys," she began, her voice trembling, "I know I'm being selfish, but for the last time, for just a few minutes... can we be like we used to be? I need to tell you something."

The boys froze, their formal façades crumbling as they processed her words.

"I'm leaving," Cior continued, forcing a small, bittersweet smile. "I'm going back to where I came from. I've done what I could for the kingdom, and now it's time for me to go."

The weight of her words hung in the air like a thundercloud.

"No," Ziven blurted out, his voice cracking. "No, you can't just leave us like this! We just got you back. How are we supposed to—how am I supposed to let you go?"

"Ziven's right," Mateo added, his voice firmer but no less emotional. "You've done everything for this kingdom, for us. You've sacrificed so much. Can't you... can't you stay and let us take care of you now?"

Cior shook her head, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "It's not that simple. This was always the plan, Mateo. I can't stay. My place isn't here anymore."

"But what about us?" Arven said, his usual overconfidence replaced by a rare vulnerability. "You can't just leave us behind. I mean, we're your team, right? We'll figure something out—together. Like we always have."

Amaias, usually the calmest, looked visibly shaken. His voice was quiet but resolute. "You've been through so much. I know you think this is the only way, but... you don't have to do this alone. Stay. Please. For us."

Cior looked at them, her heart breaking all over again. "You guys mean everything to me," she said, her voice trembling. "I wouldn't have made it this far without you. And that's why I need you to understand. This isn't goodbye forever, but it has to be goodbye for now."

She paused, her gaze falling on each of them. "I just wanted to say thank you... for being my friends, my family, my strength. And for... for being my first loves."

The boys were stunned into silence. Finally, Ziven stepped forward, his eyes glistening. "If this is really what you need, then... I won't stop you. But you better promise us one thing."

"What's that?" Cior asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Promise us you'll come back someday," Ziven said, his voice breaking. "Promise you won't forget us."

Cior nodded, a single tear sliding down her cheek. "I promise."

The group stood there, the silence filled with unspoken emotions, each of them knowing that this was the end of an era—and the beginning of something new.

As Cior gave each of the boys a hug and a gentle kiss on the forehead, the reactions varied:

Mateo stood frozen for a moment, the warmth of her touch catching him off guard. His heart skipped a beat, and despite the pain, there was a deep sense of comfort in her gesture. He clenched his fists at his sides, trying to mask the surge of emotions that hit him. "I shouldn't feel like this," he thought, but there was no denying the tight knot in his chest.

Ziven, usually the one to be confident and playful, found himself almost stumbling when she embraced him. His usual teasing smile faltered as he held her for a split second longer than necessary. A rush of protective instincts flooded him, and for the first time, he felt vulnerable. "Damn, she really knows how to break someone," he muttered to himself as she pulled away.

Amaias was more stoic, but the warmth of her hug sent a strange pang through him. He had always admired her strength, but this softness—this vulnerability—was something he wasn't used to. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her, holding her for a moment longer than he intended. When she pulled back, he couldn't meet her eyes right away, trying to mask the unspoken emotions swirling within him.

Arven couldn't help but smirk, trying to play it off as if it didn't affect him. But as she hugged him, his usual cocky demeanor cracked slightly. There was an unexpected tenderness in the gesture that made him pause, his heart fluttering in an unfamiliar way. He quickly straightened up, clearing his throat and giving her a playful grin. "You're gonna make me all soft, aren't you?" he teased, but the deep blush creeping up his neck betrayed him.

As she teleported away, leaving only the lingering warmth of her presence behind, the boys stood in stunned silence. Each of them was caught in a whirlwind of emotions they weren't quite sure how to process, and a sense of loss hung in the air.