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The silence stretched, broken only by the crack and pop of burning wood. When Aether finally spoke, his voice was low and measured.

"The Void tests you in ways unimaginable," he said, his eyes never leaving the flames. "It shows you things—makes you see, feel, experience whatever it takes to break you. The key to surviving isn't strength or skill. It's endurance."

His words seemed to drop like stones into still water, rippling through our small gathering.

"What it really wants," he continued, "is for you to lose yourself. To become so twisted in its darkness that you never find your way out. You have to show it you won't succumb."

Lael had gone very still beside me, his earlier excitement replaced by something closer to dread. Aether finally looked up from the fire, his expression softening slightly as he met the boy's gaze.

"It's late," he said, rising smoothly to his feet. "You should rest. Tomorrow's journey won't wait for tired recruits."

"But—" Lael protested, looking around the group. "We just got here. And I wanted to try Rethlyn's rice wine?—"

"Which you're too young for anyway," Aether cut in, his tone leaving no room for argument. He moved around the fire and placed a firm hand on Lael's shoulder. "Come on."

Lael shot me a pleading look, but I just shrugged sympathetically. Even I knew better than to argue with Aether when he used that tone. The boy finally stood with a dramatic sigh that reminded me of Effie.

"Fine," he grumbled, dragging his feet as Aether guided him toward the mountain entrance. I watched them disappear into the depths.

"Well," Effie broke the lingering tension, "that was cheerful. Speaking of more pleasant things—" She turned to me with renewed brightness. "What's it like where you're from? I mean, besides the obvious trying-to-kill-us part."

The question caught me off guard, though I should have expected it. These moments of almost-friendship made it easy to forget how things used to be.

"Esprithe, tell me about the food," Effie moaned, leaning forward and handing me the bottle of wine, which I reluctantly accepted. "I miss real food. Do you know how long it's been since I've smelled anything fresh? Like those spiced meat pastries from the street vendors?" She closed her eyes as if trying to conjure the memory. "The ones wrapped in those flaky shells that steam when you break them open? Or proper blackfruit preserves that actually taste sweet instead of..." she gestured vaguely at nothing, "whatever we're pretending to eat these days."

The rice wine burned in my throat as I swallowed. Every word from Effie felt sharp—not meant to hurt, but cutting all the same. How exactly was I supposed to talk to these people about Sídhe? The abundance there? Especially now knowing where it had come from, and what it had cost. It felt cruel.

"The market in Ravenfell used to smell amazing," Vexa added, her voice wistful. "Before the drought. Remember those roasted mushrooms, Reth? We used to stuff ourselves."

I caught Rethlyn watching me, his expression sympathetic. He must have sensed my discomfort—probably literally, given his abilities.

"What about your family?" he asked, clearly trying to change the subject. "Back in Sídhe?"

Relief washed over me at the shift in conversation, though it was quickly replaced by a different kind of ache. "I lost my parents when I was very young." I traced the rim of the bottle with myfinger. "But I have someone—a friend I grew up with. She's basically my sister. She's the person I miss most."

"So," Effie piped up, her eyes sparkling with sudden interest, "no handsome suitor waiting for your return?"

The question hit like ice water, and I felt my face harden before I could stop it. The change didn't go unnoticed—Vexa's eyebrows shot up, and Rethlyn shifted uncomfortably.

"Well," Vexa drawled, "I guess we'll take that as a yes."

The group leaned in, their curiosity palpable in the firelight. I considered lying, or deflecting, but the rice wine had already loosened my tongue.

"There is someone," I said hesitantly. "It's not serious."

Laryk's face flashed in my mind—that crooked smirk, the rare occasion in which his emerald eyes would soften from the hardness he showed everyone else. I missed him with an intensity that scared me. Because I didn't know what we were.

"Your reaction certainly seemed to imply it was something serious," Effie pressed, cutting through my thoughts. I hadn't realized how hard I was staring into the flames.

"It's just complicated. He—we both had a lot going on." I gestured vaguely at our surroundings. "And we didn't have much time together before... well." The words hung heavy in the air, the unspokenbefore you kidnapped memaking everyone shift uncomfortably.

The silence stretched until I felt compelled to fill it. "We aren't together. He doesn't do monogamy."

"Well that doesn't sound all that romantic." Effie turned up her nose, exchanging a look with Vexa.

"Everyone has their own way of doing things," Vexa said carefully, studying my face. "But the way you say that... it doesn't sound like it's what you want."

I stared into the bottle, watching the dark liquid ripple. Laryk'swords echoed in my head:You're different.I clung to that phrase like a lifeline, even as I felt pathetic for doing so. What kind of fool builds hope on two vague words? Especially when I knew his reputation, knew exactly what I was getting into...