There was a slight shift in the atmosphere when Silvan asked the question, but nothing like the weight that had fallen over them in the past when Amukelo first explained his history. He didn't tense, didn't hesitate. He looked at Silvan and answered plainly, "Well, I wanted to get stronger… and living out there seemed like the best way I knew how to do it."
Silvan leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful hum, swirling the wine in his glass as if trying to picture the life Amukelo had just described. "That's… an unconventional method of training," he said with a hint of amusement, "but it seems that it has worked out for you."
Amukelo gave a simple nod in return, his expression calm.
Pao looked at her father, then quickly at Amukelo. "It did work," she said, her voice a little more enthusiastic than before. "He has the best awareness in the wild I've ever seen. Even better than Bao."
Bao, mid-sip of water, lowered her cup and gave her sister a look. "Really?" she asked, half in disbelief.
But she didn't argue the point. Her face tensed for a second, then relaxed with a reluctant nod. "Yeah… okay, I'll give you that. He hears things before I do, and sometimes even smells something off before I notice."
Silvan chuckled softly. "That is impressive," he said. "But I suppose it's only natural. If you lived in the wild for a long time, your senses would have to sharpen just to stay alive."
Bao cleared her throat as if to shift the conversation away from Amukelo's background and back toward the group. "So… after meeting him, we all ended up in Llyn. That's when we really started taking things seriously. Questing, training. We decided to stop traveling for a while, at least until we hit Silver Rank Seven."
Idin added, "We figured risking our lives every time we hit the road wasn't the best long-term strategy."
Silvan nodded slowly. "Smart. Very smart. I'm glad to hear that you're thinking ahead. It's one thing to chase adventure, but understanding when to build yourself up first? That's a sign of maturity."
He looked between each of them in turn, his gaze lingering on Bao and Pao with a father's quiet pride. "I'm just happy to see you all well. I know I don't say that often… but this path you've taken—it's clearly helping you grow."
He took another slow sip of his wine. "And if you ever decide to come back to your family, to your home… all the challenges of noble life will seem easy to you now. You'll be better prepared than most people born into it."
Bao gave him a grateful nod, but her eyes still held a flicker of hesitation. Whether she ever intended to return to that life was another conversation entirely.
Then, with a more curious expression, she asked, "So… how have you been? It's been over a long time, what have you been doing?"
Silvan set his glass down gently, his fingers laced together. "It's been a good period," he said, and the words came with a calm confidence. "As you may have guessed, we've regained our noble status. It took time, but… we made the right moves, aligned ourselves with the right people. Secured the right deals."
He leaned forward slightly, as if letting them in on something more personal. "We've been rebuilding our networks. A few strategic trades, making certain high-ranking clients happy with our performance, and… well, the rest follows. Reputation is everything in our circles."
Then a glint of excitement passed through his expression. "Also—Elandria recently signed a trade agreement with Ghorzaan."
Everyone paused at that. Even Idin, who was halfway through a slice of roasted meat, looked up.
"With the orcs?" Idin asked.
Silvan nodded. "Yes. It's still early, but it looks promising. We've already started seeing some movement along the new trade routes. Their goods are… raw, but of high quality. Iron, leathers, exotic herbs. And our goods—well, you know Elandria. If it's refined, elegant, or complex, we probably made it. It's going to be an interesting exchange."
He smiled faintly. "And who knows… maybe this will be the first step toward lasting peace. We've clashed for generations, but trade has a way of easing even the oldest of rivalries. And since the last war, our king has been doing the right things."
The conversation flowed from there. They shared stories about their recent quests—some of them funny, like when Bao had shot a pig on their livestock quest, and some more serious, like the encounter with the golem. Silvan listened closely to every word, offering insight here and there, but mostly just seemed content to hear their voices, to see how they'd grown.
Pao was more relaxed now than Amukelo had seen her in a long time. With the weight of her guilt lifted, she laughed freely again.
Eventually, as the plates cleared and the wine slowed, Silvan stood from his seat and stretched. "It's been a wonderful evening," he said. "But I imagine you're all exhausted. Come—I've arranged a place for you to rest while we're in Whitebridge. It's not far."
They all stood, some slower than others, and followed him through the guild hall and into an adjacent building. There, on the second floor of a quiet, well-kept inn, Silvan had reserved a series of rooms for them.
"The beds are clean. The food will be waiting for you in the morning. And if you need anything," he said as he turned toward the stairs, "just ask."
With that, he bid them goodnight and left them to settle in.
They spent the next day with Silvan, wandering between his line of merchant carts as he proudly shared his knowledge. He explained how the trade routes worked, how bartering with distant territories functioned, and how promising the new deal with the orcs of Ghorzaan could be. Silvan moved like a man completely in his element, yet every so often his gaze would drift back to Pao and Amukelo. There was something in the way they moved together—casual, unspoken, as if tuned into the same rhythm without realizing it.
Even though Pao had been gifted a new ruby grimoire—a treasure by any measure—she hadn't opened it once since receiving it. Her focus remained firmly on spending time with her father, smiling more often and talking more openly than she had in a long time.
Later in the afternoon, when the group decided to take some time to explore Whitebridge, Silvan stopped them before they split off. He placed a hand gently on Pao's shoulder.
"Would you and Amukelo mind joining me for a moment?" he asked.
Pao tilted her head slightly. "Is something wrong, Dad?"
"No, no, nothing like that," he said with a smile. "I just want to speak with you two—away from the others."
They followed him to the side of one of the larger carts, out of earshot. Silvan leaned slightly against the wooden frame, folding his arms across his chest, his expression thoughtful.
"I've been watching you both since yesterday," he said slowly. "And it's clear to me that you're close. Very close." He looked at Pao. "You've never been the kind of girl to give her heart to anyone. You always had high walls, always focused on your studies, your goals. So... what is it about him?" His voice was gentle, not accusatory—just curious. "What made you care about him?"
Pao and Amukelo both stiffened, a flush rising in their faces at the same time. Pao looked to the side, eyes down, fingers tightening around the edge of her robe.
"I... I don't know," she murmured, barely above a whisper. "I just do..."
Silvan raised an eyebrow. "There's always a reason, Pao. What do you see in him?"
Pao hesitated, then slowly turned her gaze to Amukelo. She looked at him for a long second.
"When he saved us in the wilderness," she began softly, "he didn't hesitate. He didn't even know us, but he jumped in without thinking twice. And after that, he never made a big deal out of it. He doesn't act like we owe him something. He just keeps moving forward."
She took a breath, steadying herself. "He's full of scars, all over. You can see how much he's been through, but he never complains, never uses it as an excuse. And... I guess it made me reflect. On how I treated you. On how easy I had it growing up and still managed to find things to blame you for. That talk I had with him before our dinner—it's what gave me the strength to apologize to you."
Silvan watched her quietly. Amukelo shifted slightly, unsure of where to look. When Pao finally glanced at him, he did the same. Their eyes met for just a heartbeat before they both looked away again.
After a moment, Silvan nodded slowly, then turned to Amukelo. "And you?" he asked, voice still calm. "What is it that you like about my daughter?"
Pao's head turned to him, her face filled with hope, curiosity, and a bit of panic.
Amukelo blinked, caught off guard. "I... I never really thought about it like that," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
Silvan raised an eyebrow, waiting.
Amukelo glanced at Pao again, then back to Silvan. "Well... first of all, she's beautiful," he said, and immediately Pao flushed. "But it's more than that."
He paused, swallowing as he found his words. "She's always the first one to help. The first one to explain something when someone doesn't understand. She's brave—maybe braver than she realizes. And she has this... this passion for magic that's kind of infectious. When she talks about it, she lights up. It's... it's cute, honestly."
Pao's face turned a deeper shade of red, but she didn't look away this time.
Silvan gave a slow nod, his expression softening. "Well," he said, standing upright again. "That's all I needed to hear. I don't think I have any doubts now. It seems to me that you're good for each other."
Amukelo looked down, modestly brushing his thumb along the edge of his belt.
Pao smiled—shy, warm, real.
Silvan clapped a hand gently on Amukelo's shoulder. "I'm glad she found someone who respects her."
Then he turned to Pao, "And I'm glad you found someone who brings out the best in you."
The next day, as they prepared to leave the group stood by the cart, already packed and waiting for departure, while Silvan watched them with a calm, warm expression.
"You're certain you're ready?" he asked, his arms crossed as he stood in front of his daughters.
Bao nodded confidently. "We've handled worse."
Silvan smiled, then turned to Pao who stood close by, her eyes red and damp. She had been holding herself together the whole morning, trying not to get too emotional, but now that the moment of departure had actually come, her restraint was cracking.
"Father," she said quietly, then stepped forward and hugged him tightly, burying her face into his chest. "Thank you… for everything. Not just the grimoire."
He held her with both arms, strong and steady. "You never needed to thank me, Pao. All I've ever wanted was for you and your sister to live good, strong lives. The way you are now… I couldn't be more proud."
She didn't say anything, only nodded as her grip around him tightened for one last moment. Then she pulled away, wiping her tears quickly.
Silvan looked over to the rest of the group. "May the road be kind to all of you. And remember, if ever you need a place to stay, you'll always have one in home."
"Thank you," Bral said, giving a respectful nod.
"Thank you for everything," Idin added.
Silvan smiled and clasped a hand over Amukelo's shoulder. "And you—thank you for staying by her side."
Amukelo simply nodded, not sure what to say to the man who had so easily welcomed him into his daughters' lives.
As they made their way out of the town, the noise and movement of the busy streets slowly faded behind them. The further they rode, the quieter the world became, until only the creak of the cart wheels and the sounds of their own movement filled the air.
Amukelo, seated next to the merchant, remained unusually alert, eyes scanning the brush and the tree line as they passed the outskirts of Whitebridge.
About fifteen minutes into the journey, Amukelo leaned slightly toward the others and said lowly, "Don't relax too much."
Bral looked up from his position beside the cart and frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Amukelo didn't take his eyes off the trees. "Back on the way to Whitebridge, I kept feeling like we were being watched. I tried to shake it off, but it stayed with me the whole trip."
Idin turned his head toward him. "And now?"
"I'm... not sure," Amukelo muttered. "I still feel strange, but it's not as clear as the last time. I thonk it's better to stay paranoid than to be caught off guard."
The formation tightened slightly. Bral and Idin walked closer to the wheels, their eyes scanning opposite sides of the road. Pao, who had been sitting near the back edge of the cart with Bao, adjusted her position, her staff resting across her lap.