A soft shuffle behind us broke the silence. Both Vel and I turned at once.

Thea’s eyes fluttered open. She scanned the room, locked eyes with us, and smiled. 

“I did it.”

I let out a soft laugh. “No jumping in the air this time? You usually go nuts over stuff like this.”

Vel nodded eagerly. “You’re definitely the type. I still remember the first time you started. You ran to Mom screaming like a maniac. I’ve never seen her that stunned.”

Thea hummed. “Everything feels so nice right now. Clear.”

Maybe the aftereffects hit her differently. More pleasant. I wondered how her Spiritual Refinement would progress from here. Especially since she’d technically already activated it. Same with Elric.

“We’re leaving soon,” I said. “You, me, Elric, and Mister Ironscribe.”

“How soon?” she asked, her voice still half-sing-song.

Velea answered for me. “It seems like you're leaving kinda... now.”

Thea let out a long, resigned breath, then sat up. “Guess we should say our goodbyes then, huh?”

She moved quick, snatching Vel up into a hug. The younger girl squeaked, limbs flailing as she was hauled onto the bed.

“Theaaa—!” Vel groaned, squirming. “Please. Sto—”

“Nope,” Thea declared. “You’re taking all the affection I have to give.”

Did Lyra sneak her a second dose of that loopy energy?

Vel tried pushing her off, laughing the whole time. “Okay, okay. I get it. Enough already.”

“Hnng,” Thea grunted, giving one last dramatic squeeze before releasing her captive. “As long as you get it.”

She stood and stretched, touching her toes, cracking her back, and met my eyes. Her steel-grey gaze was calm, grounded. “I want to say bye to the girls.”

We all walked out together, but I let them move ahead. I slowed, watching them for a second before turning toward Marcus, who’d already returned. Trevor wasn’t anywhere in sight.

I stepped over. “Guess you’ll have to wait a bit longer to pummel your new son.”

Marcus gave a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Yeah. I suppose so. And the longer I wait, the more afraid I get that I won't have the capability that I’ll get to properly train him.”

He paused for a breath. “It’s strange, seeing you all take on so much. But you’re something incredible, Peter. Don’t forget that. And don’t worry about this place. I’ll use everything I have to protect it.”

I smiled and clapped him on the back. “Looking forward to seeing what you build while I’m gone. That furniture in the treehouse? Pretty sweet.”

He laughed again. “I’ll do what I can. Though I’d rather not deforest the whole island in the process. Not that big, you know.”

“Fair. Still... thanks. It means a lot knowing you’ll be here.”

He didn’t answer, just shifted his gaze toward his daughter.

Up ahead, Elric stood. Lyra and Sia walked with him. They approached as Thea and Vel settled beside me.

“We leaving?” Elric asked, already knowing the answer.

Marcus nodded. “Yeah. Trevor’s at the shore. The prince and Griffith are there already. Helen too.”

I gave a nod and turned. “Let’s head out.”

Marcus took the lead, moving deeper into the woods, toward the direction the vein’s energy had reflected from.

We hadn’t gone far when a group of four-legged, fluffy beasts came bounding up behind us. One dashed straight between my legs, nearly taking me out.

I reached down and scratched behind Bristle's ears without breaking stride. He gave a low groan, then trotted over to Vel for his next dose of affection.

I glanced back at the other trio trailing behind. “You two going to miss Elric?” I asked teasingly.

Lyra smirked and cut a sly glance toward him. “Well… I’ve got Sia, so it’s fine.”

Elric froze mid-step, then kept walking like nothing happened causing Lyra to laugh.

“Of course we’ll miss him,” Sia said, brushing her hair back. “And Thea. Even maaaybe you.”

Lyra sighed, softer this time. “I just wish it wasn’t so sudden. But once you’re back, we’ll have more time. Maybe even on a different island.”

Yeah. I felt it too. Leaving like this wasn’t ideal, but expansion was always part of the plan. Drake probably had his own ideas forming already too. The only problem was how fast it all happened.

“I’m sure we’ll be back before you know it,” Thea said.

The forest began to thin as we picked up the pace to a light jog. Tree limbs gave way to chopped foliage and crushed undergrowth. Clearly the trail they’d carved while hauling the ship through.

Up ahead, we spotted Griffith, Drake, Miss Star, and Trevor. They were wrangling a large vessel near the edge of the water.

This side of the island wasn’t the friendly, sandy beach like where we’d arrived. The shoreline here was sharp and jagged, full of black porous rock and twisted tidepools. Hard on bare feet and worse on balance.

We slowed as the rocks underfoot grew sharper, forcing us to walk more carefully.

Griffith stood ahead, waving us over with a sharp, “Get over here.”

I joined Trevor at the side of the new craft. “How’s the hauling been?”

He grunted, adjusting the wood slung over his shoulder. “Not too bad. Just hoping this thing actually stays stable enough for you guys to ride without flipping.”

The others murmured among themselves as we approached the water’s edge. With a final coordinated effort, the boat was set down.

Just like Trevor described, the ship was a double canoe frame lashed together with a wide center platform. There was enough room to move around comfortably, though sparring on this thing would probably be a terrible idea.

There wasn’t a mast, but Drake held up a bundle of paddles nearby. Backup, I assumed, in case my spiritual propulsion drained me.

“You can steer it yourself, right?” Trevor asked. “Shouldn’t be hard even if the currents are rough.”

“Yeah,” I nodded. “I’ve got it. Elric can swap, and I'm sure Griffith can learn too if we need it. It was his knowledge to begin with anyway.”

The vessel bobbed gently in the shallows. It held steady, floating well under the weight of its own design. We each helped secure it, making sure it wouldn’t drift while we loaded up.

I turned to Trevor, about to speak, but he beat me to it.

“I never said thanks,” he muttered, scratching the back of his head. “For helping me out. If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know where I’d be.”

He used Phantom Whisper to speak, and I still couldn't help but be impressed that he was able to learn and use the skill.

So I answered in kind. “Of course. I wasn’t gonna ditch you... though, I admit, the thought might’ve crossed my mind once or twice.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, sure, man. Whatever. Just don’t take too long out there. We might need you to help in conquering another monster empire or something.”

I nodded, smirking, and stepped onto the boat. Taking the first step just like with the raft. My heart gave a strange jolt as my foot left the shore.

Even though I wasn’t alone this time, it still felt like something was cut when I took the leap.

Thea hopped on next after murmuring something quiet to Vel, then to Elric and Griffith.

It wasn’t a tearful goodbye or anything. Just tension tucked behind powerful emotions.

I think all of us held it in us that we'd be back.

I was sure that we would anyway.

At the edge of the boat, I formed the water wheel propellers on each canoe, feeding a thin line of energy into it. The vessel stirred, then pushed forward with a steady hum.

From the shore, Lyra cupped her hands and called out, “Bring him back in one piece!”

“Don’t have too much fun without us!” Sia added, waving both arms.

Elric smirked and shouted back, “Couldn’t even if I tried!”

Marcus stood beside Helen, offering a firm wave. She simply raised one hand in parting, composed as always.

Then, from behind them, a final bark rang out..

Bristle stood straight, tail high, barking.

The others joined in quietly in a mix of small waves, nods, and quiet words..

Drake stayed quiet, but his eyes stayed on Elric. That strange glint still in his eye as if another plan was forming.

The steel grey with flecked violet stared at Thea and I, glimmering in the sun. Vel lifted a hand, offering a weak wave goodbye. 

The current was gentle as we left the shallows, but I still adjusted our heading using my True Sight, tracking the faint lines of Dragon Vein energy in the sky above.

Then I pushed my energy more, increasing our speed. The boat tilted slightly, but held steady, as testament to Trevor and Marcus’ hard work and design.

And just like that, the island behind us grew smaller. Our family’s farewell’s growing fainter.

Until eventually, it wasn’t more than a small spot in the distance.

Then… gone.

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