HOME FEELS DIFFERENT
The forest felt warmer again.
Not because the weather had changed—
But because something inside her had.
Aria moved through the camp slowly, greeting people as she passed. Some smiled. Some bowed their heads slightly.
Not out of fear anymore.
Respect.
That still felt new.
But she was getting used to it.
“Careful.”
Rowan appeared beside her, arms crossed.
“If you keep walking around like that, people will start thinking you enjoy this.”
Aria raised a brow.
“Enjoy what?”
“Being important.”
She rolled her eyes.
“I was important before.”
“Yeah, but now it’s official.”
He gestured around.
“Look at this place.”
Aria did.
And for a moment—
She just stood there.
Watching.
People rebuilding homes.
Others training.
Some just… talking.
Living.
“…It’s different,” she said quietly.
Rowan nodded.
“Yeah.”
A pause.
Then he smirked.
“But don’t let it get to your head.”
She nudged him lightly.
“I won’t.”
Lucian’s voice came from behind them.
“She already has.”
Aria turned, narrowing her eyes slightly.
“I heard that.”
He walked over, calm as always.
“You were supposed to.”
Rowan looked between them.
“…You two are getting very comfortable.”
Lucian shrugged.
“Problem?”
“No.”
Rowan smirked.
“It’s just weird.”
Aria sighed.
“You’re weird.”
“Thank you.”
Rowan stretched slightly.
“Anyway, I’m going to go pretend I have responsibilities.”
“You don’t?” Lucian asked.
“Not today.”
And just like that, he walked off.
Leaving them alone.
Again.
Aria shook her head slightly.
“He really has no sense of timing.”
Lucian stepped closer.
“I think his timing is perfect.”
She raised a brow.
“Oh?”
He smirked faintly.
“Yeah.”
A small silence passed between them.
But it wasn’t awkward.
It never was anymore.
Aria glanced around.
“…Walk with me?”
Lucian didn’t hesitate.
“Always.”
They moved toward the forest edge again.
The same place they kept finding themselves.
Quieter.
Away from everything.
But not far enough to feel distant.
Aria exhaled softly.
“I think I like this.”
Lucian glanced at her.
“What part?”
She gestured lightly.
“All of it.”
A pause.
“Not the chaos before.”
“But this.”
Lucian nodded slowly.
“Yeah.”
He understood.
Because he felt it too.
That shift.
That calm.
“That means it’s working.”
Aria tilted her head.
“What is?”
“This.”
He looked at her.
“Us.”
Her expression softened slightly.
“…Yeah.”
It was working.
Not forced.
Not complicated.
Just… steady.
Lucian stopped walking.
She turned to face him.
“What?”
He studied her for a moment.
Like he was making sure of something.
Then—
“…You’re not holding back anymore.”
Aria blinked slightly.
“I wasn’t before.”
“You were.”
He stepped closer.
“Just a little.”
She didn’t deny it this time.
“…Maybe.”
Lucian’s voice softened.
“You’re not now.”
Aria met his gaze.
“No.”
Because there was no reason to.
Not anymore.
Lucian nodded once.
“Good.”
A small breeze passed between them.
Carrying the quiet with it.
Aria looked at him.
“You?”
“What about me?”
“You holding back?”
Lucian thought about it.
Then shook his head.
“No.”
That was simple.
Honest.
Aria smiled faintly.
“Good.”
Another pause.
Then she stepped closer.
Not hesitating.
Not second-guessing.
Just choosing.
“I don’t want this to change.”
Lucian’s gaze didn’t shift.
“It won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
His voice was steady.
Certain.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
She studied him.
Searching for doubt.
For hesitation.
But there was none.
And that—
That made something in her settle completely.
“…Okay.”
Lucian’s hand moved to hers.
Fingers intertwining easily.
Like they’d been doing it forever.
No awkwardness.
No pause.
Just natural.
Aria glanced down at their hands briefly.
Then back at him.
“…This still feels new.”
He smirked slightly.
“Give it time.”
She raised a brow.
“Confident.”
“Very.”
She shook her head lightly.
But she was smiling.
And she didn’t hide it.
Because this—
This wasn’t fragile.
It wasn’t uncertain.
It was something they were building.
Step by step.
Choice by choice.
And for once—
Nothing was pulling them apart.
Nothing was threatening to break it.
Just time.
Just them.
Just something real.
And for now—
That was enough.