The forest path was wide enough to fit them all comfortably, but the presence of nearly a dozen ard elven guards still made it feel cramped. Dappled light fell through the trees above, the sun finally peeking out now that the sky was no longer poisoned by dungeon miasma. Birds chirped softly, the scent of pine and moss carried on the wind. In any other context, it might’ve been a peaceful walk.
Instead, Penny was perched proudly on Greg’s right shoulder, like a queen surveying her domain as she gripped his hair for stability.
Her legs kicked back and forth as she humd to herself, clearly enjoying the elevated view.
"This is surprisingly comfy," she said. "You’re like a walking couch. Just more muscular."
Greg didn’t respond. His jaw was clenched, and his arms were folded across his chest as he trudged forward. The effort it took to not swat her off was visible in every step.
Rachel, walking just behind them, tapped a finger to her chin. "You know... that does look fun."
Greg’s eyes narrowed. "No."
"You don’t even know what I was gonna say!"
"I do. And it’s still no."
Rachel pouted dramatically, then snapped her fingers. "Titan form."
Greg stumbled mid-step. "What?"
"You heard . Go big. I wanna sit up there too!"
"I am not a rideshare."
Rachel’s grin widened. "You are if I bribe you."
That made him pause. He glanced down at her suspiciously. "With what?"
She leaned in and whispered sothing that made Greg freeze. His eyes twitched. A vein pulsed at his temple.
"...Fine," he muttered. "But just for the walk."
With a shimr of heat and grinding tal, Greg’s body began to stretch. Muscles swelled, bones shifted, and his fra surged upward until he lood nearly ten feet tall. The elves nearby instinctively stepped back, one even raising a hand toward his weapon before thinking better of it.
Rachel clapped with delight and leapt up and blinked, landing gracefully on his now-expanded left shoulder. She crossed one leg over the other and rested her chin in her hand with a satisfied sigh.
"This is the life," she said. "Tall, strong, and slightly grumpy beneath . Perfect."
"I hate all of you," Greg grumbled, stomping forward with double the weight on his shoulders now.
Not far behind, Lily walked with slow, asured steps. She cradled the egg in her arms, her fingers gently tracing the faint lines of its shell.
The green glow inside pulsed dimly. Slower than before.
She didn’t speak. She barely even blinked. Her attention was wholly on the egg, as if she were afraid it might vanish if she looked away.
Leo walked beside her, hands in his pockets, eyes soft.
"You saved ," he said quietly.
Lily blinked, finally looking up at him.
"You gave up a part of yourself... to bring back."
A small, bitter smile tugged at her lips. "I gave up more than that."
He nodded once, solemn. Then after a pause, he added, "Whatever happens next, you won’t face it alone."
Lily looked at him for a long mont. Then, finally, she gave a small nod and held the egg a little closer.
At the back of the group, Luna trudged in silence. Her shoulders were tense, her arms folded tightly across her chest. She hadn’t spoken a word since they left the graveyard.
Crystal walked on one side of her, Aria on the other, with Adam just a few paces behind.
"I know it’s a lot," Crystal offered gently. "What happened back there."
"It’s my fault." Luna murmured. Her voice cracked. "I knew sothing was wrong back when we first began but I didn’t say anything..."
She lowered her head, her hair casting a shadow across her eyes.
"I let it happen. I didn’t stop her. I didn’t even try. I just let it in."
"Luna, you had no way of knowing what that thing really was," Aria said, her voice soft but steady. "None of us did."
"You were fighting to protect us," Crystal added. "You didn’t fail anyone."
"But I was still the one who welcod it," Luna replied. "Why are you even defending ? After everything?"
There was a pause.
Then Adam spoke. "Because if it were one of us, you’d be doing the sa thing."
Luna turned, surprised.
"You don’t know that."
"Yeah," Crystal said, offering a faint smile, "we do."
"Leo might’ve been the one who pulled us all together," Aria said, stepping a little closer, "but you’ve always been the one who looked after us when no one else was watching. You care more than you let on. That matters."
Luna’s lips parted slightly, her gaze flicking between them.
"You don’t have to carry this alone," Crystal said. "Not anymore. Not ever, if you don’t want to."
Luna blinked rapidly and turned her face away, but not before they caught the way her expression faltered.
"...Thanks," she muttered, voice tight. "I don’t deserve it. But thanks."
Aria looped her arm gently through Luna’s. "You’re stuck with us now. Get used to it."
Adam snorted quietly. "Could be worse."
Luna let out a faint, shaky laugh.
And for the first ti since they stepped out of that cursed dungeon, her shoulders eased.
As the forest gave way to the crest of the hill, familiar terrain opened before them. The clearing where they had first encountered the Elven Guard stretched wide and sun-drenched, its tall grass gently swaying in the breeze. The oppressive air that once clung to this place was gone. In its absence was sothing new. Sothing softer. Lighter.
Waiting for them at the center was an elf.
She was slender, as all elves were, but no longer gaunt. No longer barely clinging to life. The shadows that once hollowed her cheeks were gone. Her skin, though still pale, had regained a healthy flush. Her posture had straightened, and the bandages that once covered half her body were gone.
The Elven Princess was there waiting for them.
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