Han flew through the open sky, his dark wings cutting through the wind as he made his way back to Seraphina's quarters. The lingering tension from their last conversation weighed on his mind, but he wasn't the type to dwell on things too long. As he landed softly by the window, he found Seraphina sitting on her bed, her fingers loosely interlocked as she gazed at the floor. The moonlight cast a pale glow over her silver hair, making her look almost fragile—an odd contrast to the warrior he knew her to be.
"Hey, you calmed down yet?" Han asked, his voice casual but gentle.
Seraphina flinched slightly at the sound of his voice, as if caught off guard. She turned toward him, her expression carrying a trace of guilt. "Yeah… sorry. I shouldn't have lashed out at you like that." Her voice was quieter than usual, lacking its usual firm confidence.
Han waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, don't worry about it. You must've had a good reason behind it. But hey, I'm not the prying type. If you ever wanna talk about it, you can tell me whenever you're comfortable, alright?" He smirked, trying to lighten the mood.
Seraphina exhaled, nodding slightly. "Thanks… I appreciate that."
"Good. Now go get some sleep. Don't you have training tomorrow?"
A small, almost reluctant smile flickered across her lips before she laid down. Han took that as a sign to leave her be for now. He sat near the window, his eyes trailing the distant horizon as the night stretched on.
As dawn broke, the palace courtyard was filled with the rhythmic clashing of swords and shouts of soldiers honing their skills. Seraphina, already deep into her morning training, moved like a whirlwind, her sword carving precise arcs through the air. Han, however, had other plans.
Instead of watching her train like usual, he flew down toward the bustling town square. The streets were lively, filled with vendors selling fresh produce, merchants negotiating deals, and children playing near the fountains. The scent of freshly baked bread mixed with the faint aroma of burning wood from the blacksmith's forge.
After scanning the crowd for a bit, Han finally spotted Ronan—his familiar messy brown hair and lean frame standing out among the workers. He was helping load sacks onto a cart, sweat dripping down his forehead as he grumbled under his breath about how heavy they were.
Han landed nearby and called out, "Hey, Ronan!"
Ronan flinched and spun around, his eyes widening. "Oh, it's you!" He wiped his brow and exhaled. "Where the hell have you been? Weren't you supposed to be helping me win over Seraphina?" There was a mix of frustration and desperation in his tone, though he tried to hide it behind a forced nonchalance.
Han grinned. "Relax, that's exactly why I came here. But first—why are you loading so much stuff? You planning on going somewhere?"
Ronan hesitated before nodding. "Yeah… I take shipments of supplies back to my village every few months. It's part of my business, and, well… it's kind of a big responsibility." His voice softened slightly, as if unsure whether to say more.
Han tilted his head, considering the situation. Then, a thought struck him. "Actually, you know what? This might work out even better than my original plan."
Ronan blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?"
Han crossed his arms. "I was going to tell you to ask Seraphina out on a date in exchange for returning her mother's pendant. Since she's a knight of honor, she wouldn't refuse such a deal, and it would give you a chance to get to know her better. But now… why don't you invite her to visit your village instead? Just tell her that everyone back home really misses her and wants to see her."
Ronan's face stiffened. "You think she'd actually come with me?" His tone carried a mix of hope and disbelief.
Han shrugged. "No harm in trying, right? Worst case, she says no. Best case… well, let's just say it'll be a trip she won't forget." He winked.
Before Ronan could process the idea further, a familiar voice interrupted them.
"Ronan?"
They both turned to see Seraphina approaching, her silver hair catching the sunlight as she walked toward them. She was carrying a small crate, helping an elderly woman move goods.
Ronan swallowed hard. His hands clenched slightly at his sides as nerves took over. He shot Han a desperate look, but Han only smirked before whispering, "Good luck," and disappearing in a swift burst of air.
Ronan inhaled sharply, trying to calm his pounding heart before stepping forward.