Valeria slept more peacefully than she had in days, the constant weight of fear and sorrow seeming to lift, if only for a little while. In her dreams, there were no bad memories—just the comforting presence of Lily and the steady rhythm of the road beneath the cart. When she finally awoke, the morning light filtering through the trees, she realized her head was resting on Lily’s lap. Lily’s arm was draped protectively around her, holding her steady against the bumps on the road.

Lily noticed her stirring and gave her a faint smile. “Good morning,” she said softly, her voice carrying a warmth that made Valeria feel safe.

Before Valeria could respond, Henry’s familiar voice chimed in, full of playful energy. “Hey, sleepyhead! We’re almost there.”

Valeria rubbed her eyes, still sluggish from sleep, and sat up to see where Henry was pointing. In the distance, the outline of a town began to take shape, growing clearer with every passing moment. Her heart skipped a beat as excitement bubbled up inside her. It was her first time seeing a real town—so many new sights, sounds, and possibilities lay ahead.

But just as she was taking it all in, she heard Lily murmur beside her, “They’re safe...” Her tone was soft, almost relieved, but Valeria didn’t know what she was referring to. Her attention was too focused on the growing bustle of life as the town came into view.

The closer they got, the more lively it became. Valeria’s eyes widened in awe as the caravan entered the town, its streets teeming with people. The market square was filled with travelers, merchants, and townsfolk, all moving about in a chaotic but vibrant scene. It was as if the entire town was celebrating something. The noise of chatter, the clatter of hooves, and the sounds of laughter surrounded them, and Valeria was mesmerized.

Lily, meanwhile, quietly pulled up the hood of her cloak to cover her head. Her expression had changed—surprised, maybe even a little wary, as she scanned the bustling crowd. Valeria remembered Lily mentioning that the outskirts of Silverbrook were quiet, but this was anything but. It was the busiest place Valeria had ever seen.

Henry noticed Lily’s reaction and commented with a grin, “Looks like we’ve walked into a celebration or something. This town’s usually not this packed, but it is on a trade route. The market always draws a crowd, but this is… something else.”

Valeria leaned forward, her eyes darting between the colorful market stalls and the sea of people. She had never seen anything like it. There were merchants selling fruits, spices, fabrics, and trinkets, and travelers from all over passed through, adding to the energy of the place. The smell of freshly baked bread and roasted meats filled the air, making her stomach rumble.

As the caravan parked near an inn located in the center of the town, Henry jumped down from the cart with a wide smile. “This is where we’re staying,” he said, gesturing to the inn, its sign swinging gently in the breeze. “Not bad, huh? Right near the market. Plenty to see and do!”

Lily, however, remained in the cart, her expression thoughtful. “I’ll find a room at the inn on the outskirts,” she said quietly, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of staying in such a crowded area.

Henry, always quick to respond, shook his head with a grin. “You should stay with the group for now. Our clients already booked a few rooms ahead of time—it’ll be easier to just request one more. Besides, with the way the town’s looking today, the inn on the outskirts is probably just as packed as this one.”

Lily hesitated, clearly weighing her options. But when she glanced over at Valeria, she saw the girl’s pleading eyes, filled with excitement and the hope that they could stay with Roan’s group a little longer.

Valeria, her heart racing with excitement, spoke up softly. “Please, Lily… can we stay with them? Just for a little while?”

Lily sighed, her reluctance still evident, but she couldn’t ignore Valeria’s request. Finally, after a long pause, she gave a slight nod. “Alright,” she said, her voice gentle but resigned. “We’ll stay.”

Henry clapped his hands together, clearly pleased with the outcome. “Perfect! You’ll see, this inn’s great. And we’re right by the market—can’t beat that!”

As they climbed down from the cart, Valeria couldn’t contain her excitement. She felt a rush of energy as she stepped onto the bustling streets, the sounds and smells of the town overwhelming her senses in the best possible way. She looked up at Lily, who had pulled her cloak tighter around her, but even through her hood, Valeria could tell Lily was keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.

Roan approached with his usual gruff manner. “We’re all set for rooms,” he said, handing Lily a key. “You two can share this one.”

Lily nodded in thanks, though her posture remained a bit stiff, as if she was still on guard.

Henry, ever the talkative one, turned to Valeria and said with a grin, “Once you get settled in, we’ll take a stroll through the market. Maybe find that pie I was talking about.”

Valeria’s eyes lit up at the mention of the pie, and she couldn’t help but smile. “I’d like that,” she said quietly.

As they moved toward the inn’s entrance, the sounds of the town continued to swirl around them. Valeria couldn’t believe how alive everything felt. The energy of the place, the colors, the people—it was all so new, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she was genuinely excited for what was to come.

As they entered the inn, Valeria’s eyes widened in wonder. It was exactly like the taverns she had read about in stories, the air filled with laughter and lively conversations. People sat around wooden tables, sharing drinks and stories of their travels. The clinking of mugs, the crackling of the hearth, and the warm glow of candlelight all made the space feel welcoming. For a brief moment, Valeria felt herself getting swept up in the atmosphere, her worries fading as the excitement of the place took over.

But her attention was quickly drawn to Lily, who seemed far less comfortable than everyone else. Valeria noticed how Lily’s posture stiffened, her eyes darting around as if she was searching for someone—or avoiding someone. Without a word, Lily began moving through the crowd, her movements quick and purposeful, murmuring something about why they were still there. Valeria had to hurry to keep up, sensing the urgency in Lily's steps.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Henry, always observant, caught on to Lily’s tension. “Lily, you alright?” he asked, his tone light but concerned. Before Lily could respond, a loud, booming voice cut through the noise of the tavern.

“Oi, Lily! Don’t think I can’t see you!”

Valeria’s head snapped toward the voice, and through the crowd, a man appeared. He was striking, with an air of confidence that made him stand out even more than his impressive armor. The crowd seemed to part for him as he made his way straight toward Lily, who had paused, her back still turned.

Before anyone could react, the man reached out and placed a firm hand on Lily’s shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. “Where did you run off to?” he asked, his tone playful but carrying an edge of seriousness. “And who are these people?”

Lily sighed heavily, not turning to face him. “Your team was more than capable of handling the rest of them by that point, right?” she replied, her voice clipped.

“Of course we handled it,” the man shot back, his expression growing more serious. “But that isn’t the point. You can’t just run off in the middle of a fight like that. We were all worried about you.”

As Valeria watched the exchange, her curiosity grew. The man’s tone shifted between playful and concerned, and despite his imposing appearance, he seemed genuinely worried about Lily. But before she could make sense of it, another voice—this one calm and measured—cut through the conversation.

“Dante, don’t bother Lily like that. We’re celebrating right now,” said a man from a nearby table. Valeria’s eyes flicked to the speaker, noticing the robes and staff that marked him as a mage. His quiet confidence matched the calm in his voice.

Valeria quickly realized the man who had stopped Lily was named Dante, and the name seemed to fit him—a strong, confident adventurer, perhaps like the ones she had read about. Dante rolled his eyes at the mage’s words but didn’t let go of Lily.

“Yes, we are celebrating,” Dante continued, his tone softening slightly as he looked back at Lily. “In fact, you should be celebrating with us. You’re one of the reasons we were able to push off such a huge wave of monsters. At least be a little happier about it.”

Lily sighed again, clearly not in the mood to continue the conversation. “I am happy,” she said, though her voice lacked any real enthusiasm. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

Before Dante could stop her again, Lily slipped out of his grasp and made her way toward the stairs. “Oiii!” Dante called after her, but she didn’t look back, disappearing up the staircase in a hurry.

The mage at the table, still watching with an amused expression, shook his head. “Just let her be, Dante,” he said, his voice carrying a note of finality. “You know how she is.”

Dante sighed, clearly frustrated but unwilling to chase after her. He turned back to his companions, but his gaze lingered on the stairs for a moment longer before he joined the celebration once more.

Valeria stood frozen for a moment, her wide eyes trying to process what had just happened. Everything had shifted so quickly—the warmth of the tavern, the sudden appearance of this Dante, and Lily’s hurried retreat. She looked up at Henry, hoping for some clarity.

Henry, however, seemed just as stunned by the exchange. His brows were furrowed, and he scratched the back of his head in confusion. But after a beat, recognition flashed across his face. “Wait a minute…” he muttered, his eyes narrowing as if piecing something together.

Valeria tugged on his sleeve, her curiosity too strong to hold back. “Henry, who’s that man? Dante?”

Henry blinked, snapping out of his thoughts as he looked down at Valeria. “Oh, him? He’s a pretty famous adventurer,” he said, his tone more serious now. “Dante’s known for his skill in battle. He’s a bit of a legend, really. I didn’t expect to run into him here.”

Valeria’s eyes widened. “He’s famous?” she asked, glancing back toward the table where Dante sat with his companions. The mage and two other adventurers were laughing, clearly enjoying their time.

“Yeah,” Henry continued, still sounding a bit surprised. “He’s part of one of the top adventuring teams. If they’re here, it probably means something big happened.” He paused, then added quietly, “And from the way Lily was acting… well, it looks like she was involved in whatever it was.”

Valeria’s mind raced with questions, but she pushed them aside for now. Her attention shifted back to Lily, and without a second thought, she made her way toward the stairs. She needed to be with her.

Henry watched her go but didn’t stop her. “I’ll be down here if you need anything, kiddo,” he called after her, though his tone was lighter now. Valeria barely heard him as she climbed the stairs, her thoughts focused solely on finding Lily.

As Valeria reached the next floor, she realized she had no idea which room they were staying in. For a brief moment, her confidence faltered, replaced by uncertainty. She stood in the dimly lit hallway, her mind racing to figure out what to do next. But before her thoughts could settle, a door creaked open, and a familiar voice called out to her.

“Valeria?” Lily’s voice was soft but unmistakable.

Relief flooded through Valeria as she turned and ran toward the source of the voice. Lily was standing in the doorway, smiling gently. “Sorry about earlier,” she said, her tone calm. “Why didn’t you stay downstairs with Henry and explore the inn?”

Valeria shook her head, her brows furrowing slightly. “I was more worried about you.”

Lily’s smile softened as she guided Valeria into the room, leading her toward the bed. She sat down on the edge, her posture still a little tense, though she did her best to hide it. “I shouldn’t have left you behind with Henry like that,” Lily said quietly, her voice tinged with guilt. “I’m sorry.”

Valeria, determined to cheer Lily up, climbed onto her lap like she used to do with her mother whenever she was sad. The familiarity of the gesture made her feel close to Lily in a way that words couldn’t quite express. Valeria looked up at her and smiled. “It’s okay,” she said, her voice full of sincerity. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eye, she added, “Did that Dante guy bother you? I’ll give him an earful if he did!”

It was the first time Valeria had seen Lily this unsettled since they had begun traveling together. Lily had always been the one taking care of her, keeping her safe and calm. Now, Valeria wanted to return the favor in her own way. She wanted to protect Lily, just like Lily had protected her.

Lily’s serious expression gave way to a chuckle as she hugged Valeria tighter. Her cheek brushed against Valeria’s head, and she gently patted her hair. “No, it’s fine,” she murmured, her voice warm again. “Don’t worry about Dante. He’s a good guy, just… a bit much sometimes. I just didn’t feel like dealing with him, especially with so many people around.”

Valeria nodded, satisfied with the explanation. She nestled further into Lily’s embrace, her small arms wrapped around her as if she could shield Lily from the world. “I’ll protect you too, Lily,” she said, her voice determined.

Lily smiled down at her, her eyes soft with gratitude. “Thank you,” she said, her voice tender. For a moment, the room was quiet, filled with nothing but the warmth of their shared bond.

After a few moments, Lily shifted, her tone becoming lighter. “You wanted to explore the town, right?” she asked, her smile returning. “How about I show you around? But first, we should clean ourselves up.”

Valeria nodded eagerly, her excitement returning in full force. She watched in awe as Lily casually waved her hand, and with a gentle motion, the dirt and dust that had clung to their clothes vanished, leaving them clean and fresh. Valeria’s eyes widened, as they always did whenever she saw Lily use her magic. She had never seen anyone else with abilities like Lily’s before—not that she had known many mages, but still. It always amazed her.

“That’s so cool!” Valeria said, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

Lily chuckled softly, “Come on,” she said. “Let’s get going.”

With a renewed sense of excitement, Valeria hopped off Lily’s lap, her heart racing with anticipation.