“A lot more than you give me credit for.” He sighed and stood. “I don’t understand everything about you or your world. But I don’t have to, to see that you’re hurting.” Vi opened her mouth about to protest, tell him to stop any kind of diagnosis he’d been performing on her. “Trust me when I say you’re not the only one who’s been hurt by people they loved.”
Vi pressed her lips shut as Sarphos started for the door.
“Look after her, please.”
“Arwin is far stronger than I, she can look after herself.”
“But her emotions get the better of her and cause trouble.” He stopped, and the long pause that followed was what brought Vi’s attention back to the healer one last time. “I’ve already lost a brother, Vi,” Sarphos whispered. “I don’t want to lose a sister, too.”
With that, the man was off and Vi finished readying for her journey alone.
She inspected the contents of the pack. In addition to all Sarphos had promised, there were a few extra changes of clothes, wrapped around vials. It didn’t matter what he said, Sarphos was a fool for giving away his kindness as he did… She certainly didn’t deserve it.
Vi put the journal she’d been working in atop everything else in the satchel, slung it over her shoulder, and strapped the scythe to her back over the opposite shoulder. The strap from the satchel and the scythe formed an X over her chest. But thanks to the undergarments Arwin had gifted her, neither dug in uncomfortably.
Also thanks to Arwin, Vi no longer had to carry the scythe by hand. The woman had taken heed of King Noct’s suggestion and stopped in last night with a special strap identical to those she used to carry her pole arms.
“It looks good on you,” Arwin appraised as Vi met her on the arcade walkway.
“Thanks.” Vi gripped the strap.
“Though, unhooking the strap can make for a slow draw. You may not want to have the weapon wrapped as well, in case you need to get to it.”
They started back toward the entrance.
“If I don’t have it wrapped, it’ll draw too much attention.” Vi patted the fabric covering the blade. She suspected her magic would be the first thing she fought with the moment she was out of the Twilight Forest. Vi was still more confident with a sword in her hand than a scythe.
They walked through the entryway and out of the palace, starting along the same road Vi had now traversed many times. Other than the occasional person who gave a nod or wave to Arwin, there was no fanfare.
“Not much of a going-away party,” Vi said under her breath, tightening the bandanna around her forehead.
“They’re used to my coming and going,” Arwin replied. Vi hadn’t intended for the woman to hear. “I’m usually patrolling the edges of our kingdom, checking the barriers daily. They don’t know that this time I’ll be gone a little longer than normal.”
“Don’t you want to say goodbye to anyone?” Vi couldn’t help but ask. Something about their departure reminded Vi of leaving Norin. A princess quietly departing her Empire… even if Arwin wasn’ttechnicallya princess.
“I said goodbye to my family earlier.”
“Friends?”
“I don’t have many of those.”
“I’m shocked.” The dry remark slipped through Vi’s lips before she could stop it. Arwin looked over her shoulder in what could’ve been a glare, had it not been so obviously laced with pride.
“When did you get a smart mouth?”
“More like when did I get bold enough to share it with you.”
“Don’t get too bold,” Arwin cautioned. Despite the warning, a grin was sneaking its way onto her lips. “Take my hand, I’ll need the physical contact to get you through the shift. Don’t let go.”
Vi took her hand and refrained from pointing out that this would be the third time she’d passed through the shift. If Sarphos kept their secret up until the end, so would Vi. Even if one very big, Taavin-shaped secret was about to come to light.
Heart racing, Vi closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath, allowing Arwin to guide her through. It seemed like a single step now—the transition between kingdom and forest becoming easier each time. Like waking from a dream, Vi blinked into the bright morning light.
She instantly raised a hand, shielding her eyes. She and Sarphos had only ever sneaked out at night. The light of the Twilight Kingdom was perpetually dim, the majority of illumination coming from unnatural sources.
“Your eyes will take a little longer to adjust… It’s been a while since they’ve seen the sun. But don’t worry, you’ll be back to normal in no time.”
Vi had an increasing amount to worry about, none of which had to do with her eyes. Squinting, Vi trying to discern her bearings. But there was nothing familiar. Trees, as far as the eye could see, and not the slightest bit of sound from the stream.
