The carriage rattled gently over weathered stone roads, winding its way through Virelion's scarred countryside. Golden fields stretched out on either side, the occasional windmill turning lazily under a pale sky. The route ahead cut through hills and sleepy villages—Keswick, Marnhollow, and Drel's Ford—each one quieter than the last, touched by the echoes of recent war. Birds scattered from broken rooftops, and weary eyes followed their royal-standard carriage from behind cracked windows.
Inside, the air was still, save for the rhythmic creak of the wooden wheels and the occasional rattle of loose armor. Sofie sat nearest the window, cheek resting against her hand, her gaze locked on the passing world. She hadn't spoken since they left the ruins of their estate.
Kael broke the silence. "You've been quiet for someone who screamed a guy's name like the sky was falling."
Sofie's eyes narrowed. "Don't."
He smirked, lounging across the opposite bench. "I'm just saying… pretty dramatic, don't you think? You could've given the bards something to work with."
Lady Sera, seated beside Sofie, gave a soft sigh. "Kael…"
But he was in full older brother mode now.
Sofie's face turned pink. "Can you not?"
Kael raised his eyebrows. "Look, I'm just trying to get the facts straight. You like him, right?"
Sofie turned away, cheeks flushed. "No."
Kael tilted his head. "That didn't sound convincing."
She huffed, trying to hide her growing smile. "You're impossible."
"I'm the voice of reason," he said proudly. "Just making sure that when he comes knocking one day, I can grill him like a proper brother should."
Lady Sera chuckled softly. "Kael…"
"What?" he shrugged. "Someone's gotta make sure she's not running off with the first lightning-wielding loner who carries her through a battlefield."
Sofie gave him a half-hearted glare, but the smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "He wasn't just some loner… he tried save me."
The humor faded a little. She looked down at her lap, hands tightening.
"I remember the fire… the blood… the way he stood even when he should've collapsed. I thought he was going to die."
Sera gently wrapped an arm around her daughter, voice warm and calm. "You don't need to hold onto that pain. He protected you. That means something."
Kael leaned back, gaze distant now. "It's just hard to believe someone could go toe-to-toe with Father like that… and live."
Sera's face grew more serious. "There are powers stirring now that even your father didn't see coming."
The carriage fell into silence again.
Then, after a long pause, Kael looked over at Sofie and muttered, "So... you do like him?"
She groaned. "Are we really doing this again?"
"Just answer the question."
She hesitated. Her voice was small, but firm. "Yes. I like him."
Kael blinked. "Well damn. That's gonna make family dinners weird."
Sofie buried her face in her hands, laughing despite herself. "You're the worst."
Kael grinned. "And you've got horrible taste in guys."
"Shut up."
Lady Sera smiled faintly, watching them both.
Outside, the hills rolled past, and the road ahead slowly unfolded toward their cousins' estate—a place of quiet, for now. But inside the carriage, amidst teasing and memory, bonds were healing.
And somewhere far ahead of them, the storm they'd left behind was far from over.