Elian PoV
I grumbled as Kite had his legs draped over mine. His sleeping habits were truly the worst. Every night it was the same—he'd start off in his own space, but somehow by morning, he'd be sprawled across half the bed. I nudged him gently, trying not to wake him completely, but just enough to get some personal space back.
"Seriously, Kite," I muttered under my breath, pushing his legs off me.
Kite mumbled something incoherent, turning over and curling up, thankfully on his side of the bed this time. I sighed in relief, finally able to stretch out my legs. Ludo, on the other bed, was snoring softly, completely oblivious to the nightly struggles Kite's sleeping habits caused.
I lay back and stared at the ceiling, thinking about the day's events. The warm, inviting town of Brookhaven had been a pleasant change from the wilderness. The inn, the hearty meal, and even the teasing banter at dinner had all been a welcome respite. I couldn't help but chuckle at the memory of Kite feeding Sylvana a bite of pie. Who knew our usually serious and focused leader had a romantic side?
But as much as I enjoyed these moments of normalcy, I knew we couldn't let our guard down. Sylvana was right; we had to remain cautious. Our journey to Auroria was fraught with unknown dangers, and the prophecy we sought to understand was still shrouded in mystery.
I turned on my side, facing the window. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow in the room. It was peaceful here, a stark contrast to the chaos and uncertainty of the road. Yet, even in this moment of tranquility, my mind was already planning our next steps.
We needed to find more information about Arosia and the prophecy. The libraries of Auroria held the promise of knowledge, but finding the right texts and deciphering their meanings would be a challenge. But with Kite's determination, Ludo's scholarly mind, Cassia's wit, Sylvana's vigilance, and Liliana's boundless energy, I felt confident we could piece together the puzzle.
I gasped as Kite hugged me from behind in his sleep. "So warm," he mumbled.
My face warmed up. "Kite," I said, trying my best not to whack him.
I frowned as I saw a tear rolling down his face. Why was he crying?
His eyes fluttered open, and he blinked a few times, disoriented. "Elian?" he muttered, his voice thick with sleep.
"Yeah, it's me," I replied, trying to keep my voice gentle. "Are you okay? You were crying."
Kite wiped at his eyes, looking confused. "I was? I don't remember..."
I sighed, sitting up and facing him. "Maybe it was just a dream. Do you want to talk about it?"
Kite shook his head, still looking a bit lost. "No, it's fine. Just a bad dream, I guess."
I could tell there was more to it, but I didn't want to push him. Instead, I reached out and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Alright. But if you ever need to talk, I'm here, okay?"
Kite nodded, managing a small smile. "Thanks, Elian. I appreciate it."
The room was quiet again, the only sound being Ludo's soft snores. I stared at Kite as he looked down, well, sideways?
I sighed and pulled him in for a hug. At first, he stiffened, probably not used to such physical affection from me, but then he relaxed, letting out a breath he seemed to have been holding.
"It's okay, Kite," I whispered, patting his back. "We're all here for you."
Kite's arms slowly came up to return the hug, and I could feel the tension in his body ease. It was a rare moment of vulnerability from him, and I wanted him to know he didn't have to carry his burdens alone.
"Thanks, Elian," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I needed that."
We stayed like that for a few moments longer before letting go. Kite gave me a small, grateful smile, and I nodded in understanding. Sometimes, words weren't necessary.
"Let's try to get some more sleep," I suggested, lying back down. "We've got a big day ahead of us."
Kite nodded, settling back into his own bed. "Yeah, you're right. Goodnight, Elian."
"Goodnight, Kite," I replied, closing my eyes.
As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. Our journey was far from over, and the challenges ahead were daunting, but moments like these reminded me why we were doing this. We were a team, a family, and we would face whatever came our way together.
Morning came with the sound of birds chirping outside the window and the faint smell of breakfast wafting up from the dining hall. I stretched, feeling the stiffness in my muscles from the night's events. Kite was already up, his usual determined expression back in place as if the tears from last night had never happened.
"Morning, Elian," he said, his voice steady.
"Morning," I replied, trying to gauge his mood. "Ready for another day of adventure?"
Kite nodded, his golden eyes clear and focused. "Yeah."
Ludo stirred, blinking sleepily. "Is it breakfast time already?"
"Yep," I said, pulling on my boots. "Let's get downstairs before Liliana eats all the good stuff."
The three of us headed down to the dining hall, where the rest of the group was already gathered. Liliana waved cheerfully, a piece of toast in her hand. "Morning, sleepyheads!"
Cassia smirked. "Took you long enough."
Sylvana nodded in greeting, her eyes sharp as always. "Ready for the day?"
"Yup!" Kite said, smiling. He was forcing himself...
As we joined them at the table, I couldn't help but keep an eye on Kite. He seemed fine, laughing and talking with the others, but I knew better now. There was more going on beneath the surface.
After breakfast, we packed up our belongings and prepared to set off. The town of Brookhaven had been a pleasant respite, but our journey to Auroria awaited. As we mounted our mythical creatures, I rode alongside Kite, determined to be there for him in any way I could.
The road ahead was long and uncertain, but with friends like these, I knew we could face anything. Together, we would uncover the secrets of the prophecy and find our way forward, no matter what challenges lay ahead.