That evening, as the festivities wound down and the village quieted, Lance sat beside a small campfire, lost in thought. The warmth of the flames and the soft crackling of the fire were soothing, but his mind was restless.

Jory approached, a mischievous grin on his face. “Hey, Lance, you know that girl, Elara? She was looking for you earlier.”

Lance’s heart skipped a beat. Elara, the Lord’s daughter, was considered the most beautiful girl in the community, and every young man who had ever seen her had fallen head over heels for her. Despite secretly admiring her, Lance had always been too shy to express his feelings. “Really? What did she say?”

“She just asked where you were and seemed pretty eager to find you. You should go talk to her.”

Taking a deep breath, Lance awkwardly made his way to the edge of the village where Elara often went to watch the sunset. Sure enough, he found her there, her auburn hair glowing in the fading light.

“Elara,” Lance called softly.

She turned, her green eyes lighting up with a mixture of happiness and sadness. “Lance, I’m glad you came. I’ve been looking for you.”

They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of his impending departure hanging between them. Lance shifted uncomfortably, struggling to find the right words. Finally, Elara stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m going to miss you so much, Lance.”

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“I’m going to miss you too, Elara,” Lance replied, his voice thick with emotion.

Before he could say more, Elara stepped closer and pulled him into a tight hug. Lance’s heart raced, his cheeks flushing with both surprise and joy.

When she pulled back, Elara’s eyes were filled with tears. “Promise me you’ll come back, Lance. Promise me you won’t forget us.”

“I promise,” Lance said, his voice firm despite the lump in his throat. “I’ll come back.”

They stood together for a while longer, savoring the closeness. Eventually, they parted, knowing that this night would be a cherished memory for both of them.

As Lance made his way back to the campfire, he found Jory waiting with a knowing smile. “So, how’d it go?”

Lance smiled nervously, still processing the moment. “It went well. She asked me to come back.”

Jory chuckled knowingly. “Good for you, mate. She’s quite something.”

In the years to come, Lance would think back to that night often. Elara eventually married Jory, and though Lance felt a pang of regret, he was genuinely happy for them. They remained close friends, and Lance’s promise to return was one he intended to keep.

As the night grew darker and the village quieted down, Lance lay beside Ember, staring up at the stars. The path ahead was uncertain, but he felt a sense of purpose and determination. With Ember by his side and the support of his village in his heart, Lance was ready to face whatever challenges lay in his path. The journey to becoming a mage had begun, and Lance was ready to embrace his destiny.