Ravina woke up from the birds chirping as usual. However just as she was sitting up from the unfamiliarly warm bed she hesitated. No, that's not quite right. She simply realized that there was no longer a reason to get up this early. So she did the unthinkable. Laying back down in the bed and enjoying the warmth of it for a moment longer. As she listened to the beautiful bird song she slowly went back to sleep before she even realized what happened.

The unpleasant scent of boiling cabbage roused her again. The smell, akin to that of rotten eggs, wrinkled her nose. Blinking against the sunlight filtering into their humble abode, she slowly sat up to take in the unfamiliar scene. Asher manned the stove, concentrating on breakfast, while Reed was conspicuously absent. The girls were absorbed in playing with their father at the table as usual. The sight of the large man braiding their red hair reminded her of a bear pulling salmon from the water.

She was startled by this unusual scene, though she couldn't fathom why until she realized that she was late! She got up quickly, eliciting surprised gasps from her family as she stumbled on the sheet. She had forgotten it was there and it caught her legs while her mind slowly worked though the morning haze. Luckily she was able to shift her weight to fall backwards on the bed.

“I…” she stuttered, her mind struggling to adapt to the change.

“Hmph!” Both girls echoed the indignant sound in unison, burying their faces in their father's side. They were still holding a grudge, upset over the announcement she had made following their joyful escapade in the river. They had been giving her the silent treatment since then.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Reed entered, straining under the weight of a full water bucket. He staggered towards the cabinet.

“I can help,” Ravina offered, taking a step forward.

“No need,” Reed retorted curtly, his struggle with the heavy bucket distorting his words into a sharp rebuke.

Ravina hesitated, a pang of sadness welling within her.

“Breakfast's ready,” Asher chimed in, defusing the tension as he ladled soup into bowls and lined them up on the table, handling each bowl with exaggerated care.

“Alright, wash up—”

“We know!” Reed interjected, clapping his hands. The girls, emboldened by their shared resentment, sprang away from their father and allowed Reed to guide them to cleanliness.

“Ah… Asher, do you need any help?” She offered, only to be met with a shake of his head as he focused on breakfast preparations.

“I see.” Ravina found herself in an unusual position—having nothing to do. She stood there, observing her family functioning seamlessly without her assistance. It was a bittersweet realization. The laborious tasks she'd carried out daily—fetching water, preparing meals, keeping the kids clean—were now being tackled without her. Soon enough the children were all back at the table waiting for their food.

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Washing up herself Ravina started to clean up the mess they left behind, helping with the spent cooking utensils.

“I’ll do that later,” Reed interjected, his tone defensive.

“It's alright, besides, it's better to clean up sooner than later. If we leave it, it'll be harder to clean,” she reasoned.

With a grunt of frustration, Reed rose and gently wrested the rag from her. “Then I’ll do it now. Go eat!”

A twinge of pride mingled with her sorrow.

Nodding, she moved to the table and took a seat. Reed joined a bit later, having hastily completed his cleaning duties.

A hushed silence fell over them as they ate, the air heavy with unspoken words.

“When do you leave?” Finn broke the silence.

“As soon as I can,” she replied evenly.

“It's not fair!” Lily's protest was echoed by Rose's equally adamant, “You belong to us!”

Only yesterday, their grievances had been aimed at their father, and now it was her turn. A bittersweet smile tugged at Ravina's lips.

“Everything will be better now,” she assured them gently.

“We don't need better!” Reed retorted, pointedly avoiding Ravina's gaze.

Breakfast continued and despite the tension in the quiet air, Ravina felt an odd warmth at the table for the first time in a long time.

It ended all too quickly, and soon it was time. She selected one of the dresses that Ashtr had chosen for her and neatly folded the other into the remnants of brown paper. She had so little. In fact, there wasn't anything else to take.

“Lord Braymore will be checking in on you, and we have some funds coming in, so be sure to thank him,” she instructed them.

“We'll be fine,” Reed responded confidently.

“I know you will.” She had made sure of it after all. Mustering up her courage, she added, “Well then. Goodbye.” She made to leave, eager to escape the thick, tangible awkwardness filling the room. But as she turned to depart, she was suddenly enveloped by a flurry of small bodies.

Rose and Lily were first, throwing their arms around her in a vice-like hug. Asher was quick to follow, and even Reed eventually joined, adding his strength to the familial embrace. It was a living, breathing manifestation of their bond, one that shook her to her core. The sweetness of their embrace was a stark contrast to the bitter pill of departure she was swallowing.

Finn watched the scene unfold from his spot at the table. An inscrutable mix of frustration and sorrow etched across his face, a silent testament to the internal battle raging within him.

Tears welled in her eyes and for once, she thought it would be okay to cry. Dropping her bag she hugged her dear family as they fell to the ground in a tight embrace.

“Come back soon!” Lily cried.

“Don't forget about us.” Rose followed.

Ravina was too choked up to answer them. It took a while for them to untangle themselves. But eventually, they managed to rise to their feet once more and she was finally able to answer them.

“I’ll be back,” she said as she picked up her spare dress. Then she turned to the door and walked through it one last time.

Walking down the familiar pathway to the market, a sliver of hope that the wizard wouldn't be there to pick her up played in her heart. She never felt so miserable as she did walking along the dirt road. Everywhere her eyes fell was a familiar scene that seemed warmer than in her memory. The well especially looked rather regal today.

Yet despite how slowly she dragged her feet. Despite how many times she stopped walking to look at her wonderful home she soon arrived at the marketplace. She found an empty bench and was able to enjoy some time watching the residents of the village mingle about, even giving Felin a warm wave as she managed her stall. Then a shadow overtook her and she turned to find that the wizard had found her.

Her departure was no longer a mere thought but an impending reality. The bubble of excitement that had initially enveloped her had burst, replaced by a cascade of fear and anxiety. Her home, the only place she'd ever known, was about to be left behind.