A week passed without any trouble.
The rumors from the western border had grown quieter, and life in the village slowly returned to normal. The markets were busy, the roads were peaceful, and the villagers seemed to have forgotten their earlier worries.
At least, for now.
One morning, Mira came running into the shop.
“Elara!”
Elara looked up from the accounts she was checking.
“What happened?”
“The festival is tomorrow!”
Elara smiled.
“I know.”
“Are we going?”
“We'll see.”
Mira frowned.
“That means no.”
“It means we'll see.”
Mira crossed her arms.
“You always say that when you mean no.”
Elara laughed.
“Fine. We'll go.”
Mira's expression changed instantly.
“Really?”
“Really. Now let me finish my work.”
Mira rushed away, already excited about the festival.
Elara shook her head with a smile and returned to her accounts.
The Festival Night
The following evening, the village looked completely different.
Colourful lanterns hung between the houses, illuminating the narrow streets. Small stalls filled the marketplace, selling sweets, handmade toys, food, and ornaments. Musicians played cheerful tunes near the centre of the village while children ran through the crowded streets.
Laughter filled the air.
Elara wore a simple blue dress, while Mira wore a new dress her sister had bought for her.
The two walked through the crowded marketplace, with Mira stopping at almost every stall.
“Elara! Look!”
“Slow down.”
“Look at this!”
“I see it.”
“Can I have it?”
“No.”
“But—”
“No, Mira.”
Mira sighed dramatically.
Elara laughed.
“You've already asked for three things.”
“But I liked all of them!”
“That's exactly the problem.”
Mira was about to argue when a familiar voice came from behind them.
“Having trouble?”
They turned.
Kael stood a short distance away.
He wasn't wearing his usual royal armour. Instead, he wore simple dark clothing with a sword at his side.
Elara looked at him for a moment.
“You're not wearing armour.”
Kael smiled.
“Am I not allowed to?”
“No.”
She glanced at him again.
“You look different.”
“Different good or different bad?”
She hesitated.
“Different.”
Kael laughed.
Before he could say anything else, Mira grabbed his hand.
“Come with us!”
Kael looked towards Elara.
“Is that an order?”
“Yes,” Mira answered confidently.
Elara shook her head.
“You'll have to forgive her.”
“I don't mind.”
And so, the three of them continued through the festival together.
A Little Game
After visiting several stalls, Mira spotted a small game near the marketplace.
A wooden board had been placed on a table, with several bottles arranged in a row. Players had to throw wooden rings and land them around the bottles.
“I want to play!”
She hurried towards the stall and handed a few coins to the man running it.
Mira picked up the first ring.
She threw it.
Missed.
The second one went even farther.
The third landed beside a bottle.
Mira looked disappointed.
Kael crouched beside her.
“Want some help?”
Mira nodded.
Kael picked up a ring and showed her how to hold it.
“Don't throw it too hard. Just aim carefully.”
He pointed towards one of the bottles.
Then he tossed the ring.
It landed perfectly around the bottle.
Mira's eyes widened.
“You did it!”
Kael smiled.
“Your turn.”
Mira picked up another ring and concentrated.
She threw it.
The ring landed around the bottle.
For a second, she stared at it.
Then she jumped happily.
“I won!”
Elara smiled.
“You won because Kael helped you.”
Mira shook her head.
“No. I did it!”
Kael nodded seriously.
“She did it.”
Elara laughed.
Mira proudly collected her little prize and held it close.
For the rest of the evening, she refused to let anyone carry it for her.
Beneath the Fireworks
Later that night, fireworks began lighting up the sky.
The villagers gathered in an open field beyond the marketplace. Families stood together, children sat on their parents' shoulders, and couples watched the colourful displays above them.
Mira sat between Kael and Elara, her eyes fixed on the sky.
“Beautiful,” she whispered.
Elara smiled.
“Yes, it is.”
Kael watched the fireworks for a moment.
Then he looked at Elara.
She wasn't watching the sky.
Her attention was on Mira, whose face was glowing with excitement.
There was something peaceful about the moment.
Something Kael had rarely experienced during his life as a knight.
No orders.
No battles.
No blood.
Just people laughing and enjoying a night together.
He quietly spoke.
“I like this.”
Elara turned towards him.
“What?”
“This.”
He looked around at the village.
“The people. The atmosphere. Being here.”
Elara smiled.
“Then you should visit more often.”
Kael looked at her.
“I will.”
She held his gaze for a moment before turning back towards the fireworks.
Neither said anything more, but both seemed happy with the silence.
A Place to Belong
The festival slowly came to an end.
As the streets began emptying, Kael walked with Elara and Mira towards their home.
Mira had become exhausted from all the excitement. Her steps grew slower until she finally fell asleep while walking.
Kael noticed and carefully picked her up.
Elara looked at him.
“You don't have to carry her.”
“I know.”
“She'll be heavy.”
“She isn't.”
Elara smiled.
“You really like her.”
Kael looked down at Mira, who was sleeping peacefully against his shoulder.
“She reminds me of what I never had.”
Elara's smile faded slightly.
Kael continued quietly.
“I never had a family when I was young.”
Elara looked at him.
“Aldric gave you one.”
Kael smiled.
“He did.”
He looked down at Mira again.
“And now I think I have another one.”
Elara stopped walking.
Kael noticed and turned towards her.
“What?”
She shook her head gently.
“Nothing.”
But her heart was beating faster.
For a moment, she simply looked at him, unsure of what to say.
Then she continued walking beside him.
Good Night
When they reached the house, Kael carefully carried Mira inside and placed her on her bed.
He adjusted her blanket before quietly leaving the room.
Outside, Elara was waiting near the doorway.
“Thank you,” she said.
Kael looked at her.
“For what?”
“For tonight. Mira had a wonderful time.”
Kael smiled.
“I enjoyed it too.”
There was a brief silence between them.
Then Elara spoke.
“Good night, Kael.”
“Good night, Elara.”
He walked towards his horse and prepared to leave.
Before mounting, he turned around.
“Elara.”
“Yes?”
“I'll come back soon.”
She smiled.
“I know.”
Kael mounted his horse and rode away beneath the quiet night sky.
Elara remained near the doorway, watching until he disappeared down the road.
This time, she didn't try to hide her smile.
She knew what she was beginning to feel.
And somewhere inside, Kael was beginning to feel it too.
For a man who had spent most of his life searching for a place to belong, the little village was slowly becoming something he had never expected to find.
A place he wanted to return to.
And perhaps, a place he could one day call home.