We met up with the others back at the valley (I still refused to use the term Bennington, because it was stupid and definitely not because I was jealous I didn’t have a town named after me) and I just felt…exhausted. It was strange, really, I’d been fine for the whole month, time with Callie and training and building had distracted me from the enormity of the situation.

Now that it was over though, I felt drained. It was like holding your breath for a long time. At first it was no big deal, but once you let it out you realized how hard it had been to hold it in to begin with.

“How is everyone doing?” I asked as I slumped down at the table under the inn. “I know everything was a bit crazy, but it looks like we all came out of it ok.”

I looked around, happy to see all my friends, stronger and better geared than when we arrived. Benny looked as exhausted as I felt. “Fine.” He said with a sigh. “We didn’t lose anyone else that we knew, thankfully, and obviously no one in the team died. But this has been rough. Now that it’s over what’s the plan?”

“We’ve got about a month left.” I said with a sigh. “Before the Necromedes gets back and we head for the conclave. I kind of figured we’d do the usual. Help Celine build up the village, train, spend time with everyone. One way or another someone is going to stay here.”

Nat raised her hand, drawing lots of attention. “I’ll do it.” She said flatly. “I just…I can’t do this anymore Shane. I’ve been trying, helping out with wishes, but it’s just not the same. This was supposed to be a trip with my closest friends. I never really expected to win or even get close, and you outstripping me so badly shows that was the right attitude. But I’m just…tired.”

I sighed, nodding. Nat had been withdrawn, quiet, and generally cold since Perit died. Not that I blamed her, I’d be a mess if I lost Benny, but this wasn’t exactly out of left field.

Celine spoke up. “I’ve already talked with Natalie about this. I’m fine with making her my seneschal and giving her the power to operate in my stead. We’ve agreed to sign a contract where she grants me her wishes going forward for a stipend, payment for a job rather than ownership of the land so there’s no conflict. She’s going to be remaining here indefinitely.”

“As will I.” Said Valk, to no one’s surprise. “It’s been an honor to travel with all of you. To learn and grow and fight with each of you.” He said, his eyes trailing over Abel, Gabe, Bethy, and the rest of us. “But my place is here with Natalie.”

Chelsea, who had been silent this whole time, sniffed a bit, and I looked at my sister in concern. “Sorry.” She said, wiping her face. “It’s just…I was really hoping to get to know you better. We’re family after all. But I know you’ve been going through a lot so I steered clear and now I kind of wish I’d pushed you.”

Smiling widely, Nat stood and walked over to give my sister a big hug. “Hey, none of that. You know you guys are always welcome here, and you’re even taking my boss with you. Come back any time. Plus there’s no possible way I’m missing my cousin’s wedding, so Celine will need to find someone to take over for me when that rolls around.”

“Which will be a little while.” Said Callie. “But not too long. After the Conclave at least. You’re welcome of course.” She said, giving my cousin a tight hug. Under her breath, I heard her mutter. “I’m sorry.”

Nat just squeezed her back, pulling away with a sad smile. “I’ve told you I don’t blame you for what happened. Just keep your man in line.” She raised a brow at me. “No slacking off little cousin, you’re definitely going to rank up before I will, and I expect you to be ready to bring my friend back as soon as you have the stats for it.”

Not that we knew when that would be. All I knew was that it required a version of the wish ability higher than my current one.

“What about your guardian?” I asked. “Zeke took over for this trip since he was already watching Chelsea and mom decided to send her back to the WCP as a messenger, but with us leaving who is going to look out for you?”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

She chuckled. “I think I’m going to officially drop out of the running. I won’t need a guardian. Like I said, I’m just done.”

I was next up for a hug. She squeezed me so tight my ribs creaked, but when she pulled back I could see tears in her eyes. “I want you to know I don’t regret coming with you at all. I’ve seen and done amazing things, and I couldn’t have done most of them without you. Even among candidates you’re something special, little cousin. Don’t give up, I really think you can make it.”

“Ok, I feel like this is premature.” Laughed Valk. “They aren’t leaving for a month. The heartbreaking goodbyes should wait until it’s actually goodbye. Otherwise you won’t have anything to say day of.”

Nat looked embarrassed. “I’m trying to have a moment here, shut up.” She pouted. We all laughed, and I gestured upstairs.

“How about I make us all something to eat and we talk over what to do for the next month over dinner.” Everyone cheered, and I grinned as they followed me up into the kitchen. To my surprise, I found Zeke and Cass there, the little girl running to tackle hug her brother as my uncle grinned at me.

Callie snickered. “Shane didn’t even know he’d be cooking until just now. If not for the kid I’d assume you ran or teleported, but you just knew him well enough to predict it huh?” She shook her head in exasperation. “I have much to learn.”

“I don’t like this.” I said bluntly. “The two of you conspiring brings imbalance to my life. Stay in your lanes.”

Zeke snorted. “Mouthy for a cook, aren’t you.” He shot Callie a conspiratorial look. “Is all the attitude really worth it? Personally I got sick of him when he was about five, and sticking around has been rough for me ever since.”

I flipped him off as Callie started giggling. “I think you’re misremembering the past. I hear that’s common for people your age. Luckily we have access to a historian, maybe we can find some cave paintings of what it was like when you were our age.”

“Old jokes?” He sneered. “You can do better than that. Anyway, you going to try to buff up the village? Or are you thinking of just leaving it to Nat since she’s staying.” At my questioning look he just rolled his eyes. “What? Like I wasn’t going to figure it out? Honestly I’m proud of the kid. Not many of you candidates are smart enough to call it quits before things get bad.”

I nodded. “She’s contracted to help, so I figured I’d leave it to her. Honestly I’m not sure why giving up the territory to Celine even worked. I was half expecting my ability to veto the village building wishes.”

“It’s because you’re leaving.” He said simply. “You might be a bit attached, but in the end you’re not staying. Even if you planned on maybe having her give it to you later on, since that can’t happen and you’re not sticking around you don’t really consider it yours, so upgrading it isn’t really a benefit to you.”

That did make some sense. “Anyway, what am I making for dinner?” I asked with exasperation. I saw a bunch of people start to speak, but a voice cut through the din.

“Quesadillas!” Shouted Cass at the top of her lungs. “Everybody likes cheese, and you can put different meats on everyone’s if they want it and we can have it with sour cream and maybe some salsa and some juice to wash it down.” Ah, children, masters of the run on sentence. Even I was short of breath listening to that, but I smiled and nodded.

The others looked annoyed but I shrugged. “Sorry everyone, first come first served. Cass gets to pick tonight.”

Callie looked murderous, but Zeke just snickered at everyone else’s misfortune. My bride to be glared at me imperiously. “You’re making guacamole, right?”

“Yes dear.” I said innocently, trying to hide my laughter that she’d been outdone by a nine year old.

Nat came over to sit next to me as I cooked, while everyone else cleared off the table from the earlier meal the inn guests had. “So, how are you doing?” She asked in a small voice, and for the first time since Perit died, I saw a little bit of my exuberant cousin under the sadness. It was nice to see that spark back in her eyes, even if it was because she was worried about me.

“I just don’t know if I can do this.” I said in a somber voice. “I mean, how will I feed myself? Pick out my clothing? What about walking? Without you there to tell me I might forget which order my feet move in. Is it left left right?” I’d cracked and started snickering halfway through my diatribe, and by the time I was done she was rolling her eyes as I dissolved into laughter.

If not for her lips twitching I might have bought her glare. “Dick. See if I ever check on you again. I was just seeing if you were ok with me leaving.”

I put an arm over her shoulder, pulling her in for a side hug while I cooked one handed. “I know, and I’ll miss you. You were the first family member I ever met as an adult. But I’m not selfish enough to ask you to stay if it’s hurting you. Besides, you were totally right, we can come visit you whenever we want.”

She nodded stiffly, staring at the wall in a way I suspected had more to do with staving off tears than any desire to see something in front of her.

“You’ve grown up a lot.” She said quietly. “I remember that kid I met at the circus, and he wasn’t a patch on you. But you didn’t lose the part of you that feels compassion. That wants to help people. The part of you that wouldn’t kill Satala even though her mom wanted us dead.”

I shrugged. “That’s all Callie. She keeps me on the straight and narrow, you know that.”

“No!” She snapped. “That was YOU Shane. It was your heart. And I hope you don’t ever lose that. We’ve got a lot of scary people in the family, but not too many heroes. You’re the closest I’ve seen, and you better hold onto that. If you come back here and you’re some ruthless dickbag I’m going to punch you in the throat.”

I laughed at that. “Alright, I’ll do my best. I should be fine, Callie won’t let me drift too far. But I’ll do my best to make you proud.”

She reached up over my crown, having to stand on her toes to reach, and tousled my hair. “You always made me proud, Shane. You make a lot of people proud, they’re just too obnoxious to actually tell you so.” She turned and stuck her tongue out at Zeke, who sniffed and turned his head away, barely hiding a smile.

Rejoining the others, she left me to cook, and I went ahead and finished up cooking dinner, bringing it to the table for everyone as I sat down to eat. Looking around with a smile, I felt my heart soar. Goodbyes or not, my family was pretty great. We’d survived. We’d thrived. Now we’d enjoy our month together before we made our way to the next adventure.