Chapter 4:

The town's cobbled streets stretched before them, alive with the hum of morning activity. Traders called
out to passersby, hawking everything from gleaming silverware to baskets of dried herbs, and children
darted through the crowd, their laughter threading through the thick aroma of roasting meats and fresh-
baked bread. Astraeos took in the scene, his gaze brightening as he absorbed the life around him, the
exhaustion of their journey momentarily forgotten.

Eris walked beside him, keeping a steady pace, her senses alert as she scanned the unfamiliar faces in
the crowd. They moved through the streets with an unspoken rhythm, each step carrying them closer to
the healer Astraeos had mentioned—a mage who specialized in treating damaged mana cores. The
moment was bittersweet for Eris; she’d taken the role of his protector these past days, yet soon, in the
safety of Raevo, he would be whole again, and the strange bond that had formed between them might
fade as he returned to his life as a mage.

They stopped near a quiet corner of the town square, the gentle breeze carrying the chatter of nearby
merchants and the distant clinking of metal. Astraeos leaned against the wall, catching his breath, but
his gaze was fixed on her, an intent look that made her pause.

“You know,” he began, his voice light but earnest, “I’ve been thinking about this journey.”

She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “Really? I thought you were half asleep the whole time.”

He laughed, the sound carrying a trace of that familiar, easy charm, though tempered now by an edge of
sincerity. “Maybe. But I didn’t miss a thing, Eris.” He met her gaze, the smile on his lips softening.
“You’re a lot more than I first thought.”

She huffed, feigning impatience, though a glint of curiosity betrayed her. “And what is that supposed to
mean?”

“It means I don’t think I’ve quite earned the right to walk away just yet,” he said, his eyes steady on
hers. “Once I’m back in Raevo and I’m healed, I’d like to set out again. To keep exploring. I’ve never seen
as much of this world as I want to, but…” He hesitated, his usual confidence faltering as he searched for
the right words. “I’ve come to realize that half the adventure is in who you share it with.”

Eris’s eyes narrowed, her expression carefully guarded. “...If I didn't know better, I'd think you were
confessing your love."

Astraeos blinked, momentarily thrown off balance by her remark, but a smile tugged at his lips. He gave
a soft laugh, though there was a sincerity in his gaze that held steady, unwavering. “If only it were that
simple, Eris.” He shook his head slightly, leaning a bit more heavily against the wall. “It’s more than that.
I want to share something with someone who understands what this life is about. Someone who doesn’t
run from danger, who knows how to navigate the unknown, and… who I can trust at my back.”

Eris held his gaze, her face still impassive, though a glint of skepticism flickered in her eyes. “So you’re
saying you’re willing to stake your life on a partnership. That’s no small thing, Astraeos. And I think
you’ve figured out by now that I’m not exactly the ‘partnership’ type.”

He sighed, nodding. “I know that. But it doesn’t mean you’re incapable of it. I’ve seen you, Eris. You took
care of me on the road, kept me alive even when I could barely walk on my own.” He glanced down, his
voice softer now. “Most people would have left me back there, especially given… well, everything. But
you didn’t.”

Eris’s gaze hardened, and she looked away, eyes focused on the distant rooftops. “I didn’t do it out of
kindness, Astraeos. I owed you. You saved my life back in the Wastes.” She paused, her expression
growing more serious. “I’m not like you. I don’t have some grand passion for the world or some mission
to see what’s out there. I’ve spent my life on my own, making my own way. There’s something about
that… solitude that I understand.”

Astraeos was quiet for a moment, his face unreadable as he processed her words. “I’m not asking you to
change who you are, Eris. I’m asking you to bring who you are into a life where it won’t be wasted.” His
voice softened, his eyes intent. “There’s more to this world than we know. Old ruins, ancient artifacts,
places forgotten even by history itself. It’s more than just wandering for the sake of it—it’s about
discovering the things others leave behind. It’s about carrying something forward.”

She folded her arms, looking at him with a mixture of challenge and curiosity. “And you think a life like
that… this wandering, this constant danger—do you think that’s something to build a future on?”

His face softened, his smile touched with a hint of vulnerability. “For me, yes. It’s the only life I’ve ever
wanted. But it doesn’t mean I want to go into it recklessly. I want to be able to look out for the people I
care about, to make sure I’m not the only one standing in the end.” He met her gaze, his voice steady.
“And I want that person to be you, Eris. I know it’s not easy. I know trusting someone else doesn’t come
naturally to you. But I don’t believe you’re as alone as you think you are.”

Eris’s gaze dropped, a small frown etching itself across her face. She let out a slow breath. “Maybe I can
trust you, Astraeos. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s... different. I’ve been out there, been on
the run. I’ve seen people turn, I’ve seen friends leave the second it gets difficult.” She shook her head, a
trace of bitterness coloring her voice. “The idea of trusting someone, of depending on them—it feels…
dangerous.”

Astraeos nodded, listening intently, his expression one of quiet empathy. “I understand that, Eris. And I
won’t pretend to know what it’s been like for you. But what if there was someone who didn’t leave?
Who saw the risk and stayed anyway? What if this life didn’t have to mean being alone?”

She looked at him, her expression softening just slightly. “Why me, Astraeos? I’m not exactly a scholar,
and the life you’re describing… it’s dangerous, yes, but it’s also driven by some desire to understand
and… preserve things. To leave something behind. I don’t know if I have that.”

Astraeos’s gaze was steady as he spoke, a hint of determination in his tone. “You may not have the same
reasons, but you have something stronger than that. You have resilience, Eris. Strength that comes from
living with your own scars. And maybe that’s what I need. Not just a partner in knowledge or curiosity,
but someone who can meet the world’s dangers without flinching. Someone who knows how to keep
going when things get hard.” He paused, searching her eyes. “And maybe… maybe you’ll find something
out there that’s worth leaving a mark on. You might find a purpose that belongs to you, one that’s not
tied to anyone else’s expectations.”

Eris was quiet, the skepticism on her face tempered by thoughtfulness. “So you’re saying… you want
someone along for the danger.”
Astraeos chuckled, nodding. “In a way, yes. But it’s more than that. It’s knowing that if things go
sideways, I have someone I trust to bring me back. Someone who can remind me why it’s worth fighting
for in the first place.”

Eris glanced away, her eyes fixed on a point in the distance. She was quiet for a moment, her voice
thoughtful when she spoke. “I don’t think I’ve ever thought about what it would be like to have a
purpose beyond survival. To see something that has nothing to do with… running.”

Astraeos studied her quietly, a sense of relief crossing his face. “Maybe this could be your chance, Eris. A
chance to find something that belongs to you. Not because you owe someone, or because it’s expected,
but because you’ve chosen it.”

She looked back at him, a faint smirk playing at her lips. “You have a way of making things sound simple,
Astraeos.”

He shrugged, his smile easy. “It’s just what I’ve learned over the years. Maybe there’s nothing simple
about it, but that’s part of what makes it worth doing.” He reached out, his hand resting on her shoulder
for a brief moment. “When I’m healed, I’ll be back on the road. And I’d rather not look over my shoulder
wondering where you went off to. I’d rather see the world, knowing someone like you is walking beside
me.”

Eris let out a breath, her guarded expression breaking as she considered his words. She was silent for a
long moment before finally speaking, her voice quiet but resolved. “Get yourself healed first. If you
make it out of Raevo with that core of yours intact, we’ll see if this partnership of yours is anything like
you imagine.”

Astraeos’s smile broadened, his eyes alight with hope and determination. “That’s good enough for me.
One step at a time.”

He looked around the square, his gaze drifting to the distant hills, and for a moment, Eris could see the
flicker of wonder and ambition that had brought him this far. It wasn’t the life she’d once pictured for
herself, but there was something in his words—something she couldn’t deny that she wanted, too. It
was the promise of a purpose that went beyond survival.

And maybe, she thought as they walked toward the inn, it was worth taking a risk to see if that life could
be hers as well.