chapter 10: love growing

The years passed in a blur of quests, camaraderie, and quiet growth. The once-tense dynamics within our adventuring group began to soften, shifting from awkward beginnings to something that felt like family. Each battle we faced, each challenge we overcame, strengthened the bonds between us, though some grew in ways no one would have predicted.

Elaris and I had grown closer than I ever thought possible. She was still the gentle, nurturing presence she'd always been, but over time, her kindness began to feel less distant, more personal. We spent hours talking during quiet nights at camp or in the safety of a rented inn, her calming voice always grounding me when my thoughts ran wild. There was an unspoken understanding between us—a connection that went beyond words. Sometimes, when I caught her lavender eyes lingering on me, I wondered if she felt it too. One night, as the group sat around a campfire after a particularly grueling quest, Elaris had tended to a minor cut on my arm. Her hands were soft and steady as she worked, the glow of her healing magic warm against my skin. "You're always getting yourself into trouble, Noctis," she had teased, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Someone has to keep things interesting," I had replied, grinning. But there was a weight behind her smile that stayed with me long after the wound had closed—a depth to her gaze that hinted at something she wasn't ready to say.

Kaivya and Alaria, meanwhile, continued their endless battle of wits and wills. From the outside, it looked like they couldn't stand each other—every conversation between them devolved into sharp remarks and barely-veiled insults. Kaivya would roll her golden eyes and mutter about Alaria's arrogance, while Alaria would scoff and call Kaivya impulsive and reckless. But there was something beneath the surface, something unspoken that neither of them would admit. They were more alike than they realized, and maybe that was why they clashed so often. Both of them had sharp tongues and sharper instincts, but they also shared an unshakable loyalty to the group, even if they expressed it in different ways. One evening, as we rested in the guild hall, I caught a glimpse of them sitting at the bar together. Kaivya had said something that made Alaria laugh—an actual, genuine laugh, not her usual sarcastic chuckle. It was a rare moment of peace between them, and I couldn't help but smile. They'd never admit it, but they were closer than they let on.

Daren remained the steady, rational core of our group. Over the years, he'd taken on a sort of older brother role for me, offering advice and guidance when I needed it most. He was the one I turned to when I found myself questioning the growing feelings I had for Elaris. One evening, as we sat sharpening our weapons by the fire, I finally brought it up. "Daren, can I ask you something?" He glanced at me, his gray eyes calm and steady. "Of course. What's on your mind?"

"It's about Elaris," I said, my voice quieter than I intended. "I feel like… I don't know, like there's something there. But I don't know what to do about it." Daren chuckled softly, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "You're asking the wrong person, kid. If I knew how to navigate that kind of thing, I wouldn't be stuck flirting with the guild receptionists." I couldn't help but laugh at that, though it didn't ease the nervous flutter in my chest. "Still, you're… better at this stuff than me. Any advice?" He paused, his expression turning thoughtful. "Elaris is special," he said after a moment. "And if you think there's something there, don't let it slip away. But be honest—with her and with yourself. She deserves that much." His words stayed with me long after the fire had burned low, and I found myself wondering if I had the courage to take his advice.

At 17, I felt like I'd grown more in the past few years than I ever had before. I wasn't the same nervous, uncertain boy who had joined this group—I was stronger, more confident, though there were still moments of doubt. Alaria, now 19, had grown in her own way too. She was as fiery and unpredictable as ever, but there was a softness to her now, a vulnerability she only showed in fleeting moments. As we prepared for our next adventure, I couldn't help but reflect on how far we'd come—not just as individuals, but as a group. We were more than a team now; we were a family, messy and imperfect but bound together by shared experiences and trust. And as I glanced at Elaris, Kaivya, Alaria, and Daren, I realized that, no matter what challenges lay ahead, we'd face them together.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting warm orange hues across the horizon, our campfire crackled and danced, throwing flickering shadows against the surrounding trees. We had set up camp just outside a small town after another successful quest, and the mood was light, almost celebratory. Kaivya was lounging against a log, her sharp golden eyes lazily scanning the firelight, while Alaria sat cross-legged nearby, idly sharpening her dagger. Daren, as usual, was focused on his blade, but even he looked more relaxed than usual. And then there was Elaris, seated close—closer than anyone else—beside me, her warmth a steady presence against the cool evening breeze. She hummed softly under her breath, a tune she often sang when healing wounds or calming frayed nerves. Her lavender eyes met mine briefly, and the faintest smile curved her lips before she looked back at the fire. It was in those small, quiet moments that it felt as though the rest of the world faded away, leaving just the two of us.

Kaivya groaned dramatically, breaking the peaceful silence. "I don't know why we bother with these low-level quests anymore. Tracking down missing livestock? Please." She flopped onto her back, tossing her dagger into the air and catching it without looking. "We're silver-ranked. Shouldn't we be doing something… grander?" Alaria scoffed, not even glancing up from her work. "Maybe if you didn't make a scene at every town we visit, we'd get offered better quests."

Kaivya sat up sharply, glaring. "I don't make scenes. I make impressions. There's a difference."

"Sure you do," Alaria said dryly, a sly smirk tugging at her lips. Elaris let out a soft laugh, and I couldn't help but chuckle along with her. "They'll never change, will they?" I murmured, glancing at her. "Probably not," she replied, her voice warm. "But that's part of their charm, isn't it?" I nodded, my gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. Her golden hair, loose for the evening, shimmered in the firelight, and her lavender eyes had a way of softening the edges of the world around me. Kaivya caught the look and snorted. "Oh, spare me," she drawled, pointing a lazy finger at us. "You two are disgusting." Elaris turned to her, eyebrows raised in mock offense. "Disgusting? I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about." Kaivya smirked, gesturing vaguely between us. "Oh, come on. You're practically glued to his side these days. Do you even know what personal space is?" Alaria, who had been unusually quiet, glanced up at us, her emerald eyes sharp and calculating. "She's got a point," she said, her tone light but edged with something unreadable. "You two are… closer than usual."

Elaris didn't flinch, her calm demeanor unshaken. "We've been through a lot together. I care about all of you," she said smoothly, though her hand brushed against mine in a way that felt anything but casual.

Kaivya rolled her eyes but didn't push the matter further, leaning back with a muttered, "Whatever. Just don't make it weird for the rest of us."

Later that night, as the others turned in one by one, Elaris and I remained by the fire. The flames had died down to glowing embers, and the only sounds were the distant rustle of leaves and the soft crackling of the wood. Elaris shifted closer, her shoulder brushing against mine. "You've been quiet tonight," she said softly, her lavender eyes searching mine. "Something on your mind?" I hesitated, unsure how to put my thoughts into words. "Just… thinking about how much things have changed," I said finally. "How far we've come." She smiled, her expression tender. "It's true. We've all grown a lot." I glanced at her, my chest tightening at the way the firelight danced in her eyes. "You've been a big part of that, you know," I said, my voice quieter than I intended. "I don't think I'd be the person I am now without you." Her cheeks flushed faintly, but she didn't look away. Instead, she reached out, her hand resting lightly on mine. "And I wouldn't be who I am without you, Noctis." For a moment, neither of us spoke. The air between us was charged with something unspoken, a connection that had been growing for years but had never been fully acknowledged.

When dawn broke, the group stirred slowly. Daren was the first to rise, already packing up his things with his usual efficiency. Kaivya grumbled about the early hour, her tail swaying irritably as she stretched. Alaria seemed distant, her gaze lingering on me and Elaris as we stood by the dying fire. As we prepared to set out for the next leg of our journey, I caught Elaris' gaze once more. There was a warmth there, an understanding that didn't need words. Whatever lay ahead, I knew we'd face it together.

The morning sun filtered through the trees as we set off down the well-trodden dirt path. The air was cool, and the sound of birdsong filled the quiet moments between footsteps. The warmth of the early light danced across the road ahead, but I couldn't focus on it. My thoughts kept drifting to Elaris and the gentle moment we'd shared the night before. Kaivya was walking ahead, her usual swagger present as she tossed a dagger idly between her hands. Alaria walked just behind her, arms crossed, her emerald eyes occasionally glancing back at me and Elaris. Daren brought up the rear, his gray eyes scanning the surrounding forest with his usual alertness. I walked beside Elaris, close enough that our shoulders brushed occasionally. Her presence was always calming, her soft lavender eyes scanning the path ahead, lost in thought.

Suddenly, I felt the lightest brush against my hand. It startled me at first, but I realized it was Elaris' fingers, tentative and uncertain. I glanced at her, and she gave me a shy smile, her cheeks faintly pink. Without thinking, I slid my hand into hers, our fingers intertwining. Her hand was warm and soft, and the simple gesture sent a strange sense of peace through me.

"You okay?" I asked, my voice quiet enough that the others wouldn't hear. She nodded, her smile growing. "I'm fine," she said softly. "Just… wanted to stay close." I squeezed her hand gently, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the rising sun. "Me too."

Alaria, walking ahead, glanced back over her shoulder and froze when she saw our linked hands. Her emerald eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't say anything, her gaze flicking back to the path with a small, almost imperceptible huff.

Kaivya, completely oblivious, was muttering something about wanting a more exciting quest this time. "If it's another damn missing cat, I swear I'm going to—"

"Kaivya, we agreed to take what's available," Daren said, cutting her off in his usual calm tone. "Not every quest will be life-changing." Kaivya groaned dramatically, throwing her arms in the air. "Then what's the point of being adventurers? We're supposed to be doing something epic! At least give me something that pays better."

"Speaking of quests," I said, cutting in as I glanced at Elaris, then the others. "What's the next one again? I don't think I caught it yesterday." Daren slowed his pace slightly, pulling a rolled parchment from the satchel on his hip. "We're headed to the village of Greystone," he said, unfurling the paper. "There've been reports of something attacking livestock on the outskirts of the village. The locals think it's wolves, but…"

"But what?" Alaria asked, her tone sharp. He frowned, his gray eyes scanning the parchment. "The reports are inconsistent. Some say wolves, others say it's something… bigger." Kaivya perked up at that, her golden eyes gleaming. "Now that's more like it! Finally, something interesting." Alaria rolled her eyes. "Let's just hope it's not you running away from whatever it is." Kaivya spun on her heel, walking backward as she grinned at Alaria. "Please, I'm not the one who screams at spiders."

"You're insufferable," Alaria muttered, her cheeks flushing as she pushed past Kaivya.

Elaris chuckled softly beside me, her thumb brushing lightly against my hand. "Think we'll be okay, Noctis?" she asked, her tone light but with a hint of concern. I glanced at her, feeling a surge of confidence from her presence. "Yeah," I said with a small smile. "We've faced worse. We'll figure it out."

As we walked toward Greystone, the group fell into an easy rhythm of banter and planning. The road ahead was uncertain, but with Elaris' hand in mine, it felt like we could face whatever came our way.