Arkin stood first.
“We pack tonight.” Aiko looked at him.
“You’re serious?” “Completely.” “After seeing all of that?” “Especially after seeing all of that.” “Beings died in those memories.” “Elves die here.” “There were vampires.” “We have vampires here.” “Bandits.” Arkin pointed vaguely downward.
“We have Tyron.” Aiko opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
“Fine.
Bad example.” Arkin looked at Kyren.
“Tonight.” Kyren stared toward the horizon.
“What about Mom?” Arkin’s expression softened.
“She’ll manage.” Kyren looked at him.
“You don’t know that.” “She managed before us.” “That isn’t what I asked.” “Kyren—” “We disappear and leave her here?” “We can’t take all the elves.” “I didn’t say all the elves.” Aiko remained silent.
Kyren looked down through the leaves toward the village they could no longer see.
“She’s the only elf here who…” His voice stopped.
He hated that the words were difficult.
Roselle was the only elf who consistently defended him.
The only one who cleaned blood from his face without first asking what he had done to deserve being hit.
The only elf whose use of the word son never sounded like a reminder that he owed her something.
Arkin sat beside him.
“She believes in you.” Kyren laughed quietly.
“That’s exactly why leaving feels worse.” “Maybe.” “Maybe?” “If you stay only because you’re guilty about leaving her, they still control where you live.” Kyren did not answer.
Below them stretched Delasai.
For ten years it had been his entire world.
Vast enough that he could travel for days and still see trees.
Ancient enough that the elders spoke of civilizations rising and dying beyond its borders while Delasai remained.
Protected by magic.
Filled with dangers.
Filled with elves who had already decided what Kyren was supposed to become.
Above the forest hung twenty moons.
Somewhere beyond the last tree lay water without an opposite shore.
Somewhere beyond that water were cities whose inhabitants had never heard of Delasai.
Strangers who did not know Roselle.
Did not know Zino.
Did not know Tyron.
Did not know Kyren was supposed to save anyone.
For the first time, anonymity sounded beautiful.
Kyren closed his eyes.
Roselle’s face appeared anyway.
He opened them.
“I’ll pack.” Arkin smiled.
Aiko looked between them.
“You’re both actually doing this.” Kyren stood on the branch.
“Yes.” “Tonight?” “Yes.” “And if we’re caught?” Kyren looked toward the distant horizon.
“Then Arkin planned everything.” Arkin stared at him.
“What?” “I’m innocent.” “You bastard.” Aiko laughed despite herself.
For several seconds they were only children sitting at the top of a tree, laughing at something stupid.
Then Kyren looked down again.
The laughter faded.
“I’m not leaving without saying goodbye to my mother.” Arkin nodded.
“Then we say goodbye.” “No.” Kyren’s expression hardened.
“I do.” Wind passed through the upper branches.
The twenty moons shone above them.
Somewhere beyond the forest waited the sea.
Kyren had never touched it.
Never smelled salt in the air.
Never stood somewhere without trees surrounding him.
Until that day, he had not even known enough about the world to understand what he was missing.
Now he did.
Delasai had not become smaller.
Kyren’s world had become larger.
And for the first time in his life, the edge of the forest no longer looked like the end of everything.
It looked like the beginning.