Alexander eventually stepped out of the tent, still wearing that cold, composed expression he used whenever he became the crown prince instead of the suffering boy Elion tormented during training.

His five retainers moved around him with far more discipline than they had shown during their flight from Haven.

Peter coordinated ration packs for the units being redirected, Gareth drafted messages to the nearby checkpoints in careful wording that revealed nothing important, Lukas helped inspect armour and shields for those joining the supply road reinforcement, Erian checked basic medical charms, and Darin prepared to leave with Zenovia and Aeron.

Elion watched them for a while and couldn’t help smiling faintly.

"They’re not completely useless," he muttered.

Alexander, who had somehow ended up beside him, gave him a tired look. "That is the nicest thing you’ve said about them."

"Well, it was heartfelt."

"It honestly sounded like an insult."

"I think that is because you have low self-esteem."

Alexander stared at him. "How did this become about me?"

"Everything does, prince."

Alexander sighed deeply. "I do not know how my sister willingly spends time with you."

Elion smiled. "Why do you think? It’s my charm."

"I beg to differ, I’d say it’s a misfortune."

"Has no one ever told you that jealousy is ugly, Prince Alexander?"

"I am not jealous."

"You muttered that I looked like an angel after I tied up my hair."

Alexander’s face immediately darkened. "I regret ever speaking within ten metres of you."

Elion laughed annoyingly.

A short while later, Aeron and Zenovia’s group gathered near the western edge of the camp. Aeron had finally stopped complaining, though that probably meant he was taking things seriously now.

His weapon rested across his shoulder, and his eyes kept scanning the trees beyond the outer ward line. Zenovia stood beside him, her cloak drawn close to hide how sinfully the tight suit hugged her outrageous curves.

In any other situation, Elion might have been salivating at the sight of her, but he let the urge pass over him, lest he trigger her and end up getting punched to oblivion instead of enjoying the view.

Elion walked over as they prepared to leave.

Aeron saw him coming and smirked. "Here to cry over my departure?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Yes," Elion said. "Tears of joy."

"I hate you."

"Don’t die."

Aeron’s smirk softened slightly despite himself. "You too."

Zenovia looked at Elion. "Try not to do anything stupid during your mission."

"Impossible request."

"I know."

Before he could respond, she turned and slipped toward the trees, Aeron following with a dramatic sigh, Darin and the scouts moving behind them. Within moments, the forest swallowed them.

Maya stood nearby, watching them vanish with a worried expression.

"They’ll be fine," Elion said.

She glanced at him. "You don’t know that."

"No," he admitted. "But Zenovia is hard to kill, Aeron is... Well, he is Aeron, and Darin seems competent enough."

Maya blinked and smiled faintly. "Thanks... That is strangely comforting."

"I am a very comforting person."

Alexander snorted from behind them to voice his disagreement, but Elion chose to ignore him this time.

The next few hours around the camp passed in constant motion. Elion spent most of that time preparing in his own way.

He checked his armour again, though he still wasn’t used to wearing the full set. The Legendary armour fit perfectly, sitting light against his body despite its defensive strength.

He practiced drawing the sword a few times afterward, testing how the scabbard sat at his waist, how quickly he could move from relaxed posture to killing stance.

Each movement felt smoother than expected. The armour conducted mana cleanly, and the silent movement enchantment made his footsteps disturbingly soft even against dry leaves and wood.

At some point, once he was done with the final instructional tidbits, Alexander watched from Elion do his thing from a short distance with his arms crossed over his chest. He gave a light nod in approval, liking what he was seeing.

"You look more like a warrior going to battle now," he said.

Elion glanced at him. "Only now?"

"Previously, you looked like a handsome vagrant with too much confidence."

Elion smiled. "Handsome?"

Alexander immediately regretted every word he had spoken; it really felt like Elion would twist his words however he wanted, no matter what he said. "That is not the part you should focus on."

"It is the only part that matters."

Maya giggled softly from where she was standing with her staff in hand.

As sunset approached, the final preparations for Elion and the others’ departure were made. He would not leave with a large force, after all, that was not the point. Too many people would draw attention.

Instead, he would move with Alexander, two elite scouts, and the small escort of Alexander’s retainers, only as far as the forward command post. From there, Alexander would remain with the coordination unit while Elion would eventually split away when the operation began.

Maya would stay at the camp until further notice. Aeron and Zenovia would return if their surveillance produced nothing immediate or send word if they found a trail worth following.

...

Night settled over the Great Forest slowly, the canopy turning black above them. Elion stood near the edge of camp, looking into the forest.

He felt comfortably confident, despite all he had said about his doubts; he was now very confident in his skills as a mage and swordsman, and yet, standing there beneath the old trees, he felt the same thing he had felt when the second moon appeared above Haven.

That strange sense that something was pulling him toward a path already waiting for him.

He didn’t like it. Not exactly, but he did not hate it either.

Alexander approached beside him after a moment.

"We leave before dawn," the prince said.

Elion nodded. "Why do I feel like you keep saying that lately?" He taunted, "You have nothing better to say to little ol me?" He asked with a smirk.

"It can’t be that you get flustered being around me, right?" He feigned deep shock.

Alexander clicked his tongue as his lips curled up in disgust. He let out a heavy sigh, "I promise, one day, I will make you suffer the same cruel fate that you have subjected me to all this time we have been together."