Chapter 77 THE GOODBYE THAT WASN'T MEANT TO BE
She lay on the bed, turning to face Magnus. Pushing her racing thoughts aside, she wanted to sleep so she could be ready to see him off in the morning. She would never forgive herself if she missed that moment. She couldn't quite name what it was about him that made her care so deeply, but she knew she enjoyed the feeling. She liked him. He was a wonderful person to have by her side.
Her eyes drifted shut as her body finally relaxed. It was time for some rest. She silenced her mind, letting herself drift until the darkness took over. Even in sleep, however, the sorcerer stayed with her, filling her dreams. There was no escaping him. When he left at dawn, she would face one of her toughest challenges yet. Saying goodbye had never been easy for her.
The next morning, Magnus, Layton, Xyra, and her family gathered on the eastern edge of Clearham. The sun was only just starting to rise, but the sorcerer had insisted on an early departure. A vast, open field stretched between Clearham and the next town. It was a long walk with very little protection from potential demon attacks. Of course, Magnus didn't care much for cover anyway. In his mind, any demon that crossed his path was destined for a quick end.
"So you're heading home?" asked Nereo.
"Yeah," Magnus responded. "I'll go home, get some money, and then I'll have someone deliver it here. Make good use of it. I expect to see a thriving town when I come back for a visit."
"Don't worry," Liv assured him. "We'll all have this place looking brand new."
Magnus grinned at the two adults, glad to see them feeling so hopeful. It felt good to know he had truly helped them out. For a change, his wealth was actually serving a purpose. Most of his riches were just sitting back in a vault in Vekta. It wasn't anything flashy, though; just a simple steel room he had built deep under his house. That chamber held every gold coin and ruby his family had ever owned. Since he had no real need for all those riches, he was happy to give some away to those who needed it more.
He turned his gaze toward Xyra, and his expression softened. She was trying her hardest to act bright and okay, but he caught the lingering sadness in her look. He had a feeling she didn't actually want to remain behind. Still, she couldn't just walk away from her parents after being gone for so long. It wouldn't have been right to leave them again so soon.
"Have a safe trip," Liv told the two boys. "We'll be expecting a visit soon."
"You can count on it," Magnus said brightly as he and Layton turned to leave.
"Bye," Xyra called softly, drawing the sorcerer's eyes to her. She looked to be on the verge of tears. "Thanks for everything. I really owe you for this."
"It was no big deal," he told her as he turned around and walked slowly over. There was a soft, almost sensitive smile on his face. He stopped when he was right in front of her, and she had to crane her neck a bit to hold his eyes. "I'll miss you, Xyra."
For the first time, his voice held no trace of a lie. Usually, that low, airy tone meant he was teasing her or trying to get his way. He was an expert at it, but this time, he was serious. She could tell he truly meant what he said.
Before she could find an answer, he turned and started walking toward the open field. She tried to call his name, but the words stayed trapped in her throat. Deep down, she knew she didn't need to speak. He already knew she would miss him; he always had a way of reading her clearly.
Xyra stood still, watching Magnus and Layton leave Clearham. Once they crossed the hill, they vanished from sight. She fought to keep the tears back, but one managed to slip down her face. She quickly wiped it away, hoping her parents wouldn't notice. It felt wrong to be this upset over a simple goodbye.
Liv and Nereo had been smiling as they watched the sorcerer and his guard walk away, but their faces fell when they looked at Xyra. Their daughter looked like she might collapse and cry right there. Her companion of only a month was gone to continue his journey, and while they knew she would miss a friend, this seemed deeper. Perhaps their bond was more complex than they realized.
Right now, her parents didn't care about the details. They saw how sad she was and understood how much she wanted to go with him. Keeping her in Clearham felt like a mistake. If her heart was out there, they had to let her follow it. She wasn't a child anymore; she was her own person.
"Xyra," began Nereo, drawing her attention. "You know…you don't have to stay here with us." His daughter's eyes widened a bit at the suggestion. "If you want to travel with him, you can."
"But I'll be leaving you alone again," she said, making it sound as if the action was a horrible one.
"It's alright," Liv assured her. "If traveling with him is something you want to do, then you should do it. Don't let us stop you. You can come home anytime you want, but this is your only chance to stay with him."
Xyra pondered her options for only a second before turning and running back to her house. It didn't take long for her to return, now equipped with her brown cloak and the khukuri blade. Her parents knew her answer now. She was going to keep following Magnus.
"Thank you," she told them both, giving her parents a hug. "I'll come back. I promise." With that said, she ran off into the field, determined to catch up with her companion. There was a smile on her face. She couldn't wait to tell him the news.
Magnus and Layton crossed the field in silence. Usually, Magnus led the way, but now his guard walked ahead while Magnus trailed behind. With his hands shoved in his pockets and his eyes fixed on the grass, he barely noticed where they were going. A strange feeling hung over him, a sense that something was missing. He knew exactly what it was, even if he didn't want to admit it. He missed Xyra. It was hard to explain, but the quiet felt empty without her.
He looked toward the empty space beside him. If she were there, that is where she would be standing. Xyra always had a routine of splitting her time between him and Layton. Magnus used to get annoyed when she chatted with his guard, mostly because Layton loved to share old stories about him. They were always the kind of memories that made him want to disappear. He wondered why Layton couldn't just tell a good story for once instead of the embarrassing ones.
"Young master?" began Layton, drawing the sorcerer's attention. "Forgive me for asking, but are you well?"
"What do you mean?" There was a small scowl to his voice.
"You're returning to Vekta on your own. I didn't have to trick or convince you this time. I was simply wondering if you were still sane."
"Thanks a lot," he mumbled. "But you know…I don't plan on staying there. I'm just gonna say hi, grab some money, and leave. I'm also gonna drop you off."
"But sir…"
"No buts. I'm fine on my own. You're needed in Vekta. Plus, you can look after Clearham for me. You know…make sure they're doing okay and that they have enough money. It'll keep you busy for a while."
Layton didn't say anything to that. Either he didn't mind or he knew that there was no point in arguing. It was most likely the second. Magnus was rather opinionated. Besides, he had to remember that even though he was supposed to be a guard, he was still a subordinate. If Magnus were to give this as an order, he had to follow it. He decided not to think about it anymore and instead inquired about something else.
"…Are you sure you're alright?" he asked his master, earning him a curious sort of glare. "You've been dragging your feet since we left, and your attitude has been anything but personable."
"Always frank, aren't you?" Layton had an uncanny talent for always saying what he observed. He was always blunt and didn't seem to care if Magnus found his observation insulting or not. It was simply the truth. He had been rather unapproachable since they left. He was too busy thinking about things, and everything just seemed to lead him back to the source of his problems. He hadn't known he was so attached to Xyra. The little thief had found a way to permanently place herself in his mind. She was plaguing his thoughts, and it bothered him to no end.
He sighed and glanced up at the sky. It was a bit cloudy today, but he could still see the sun shining through. He tried to distract himself, but he just couldn't get over the fact that he was going to be alone again. It had been a long time since he had traveled without somebody. He had found that he enjoyed having companions. They provided conversations, something he had dearly missed on his travels. I should just stop thinking about her. It was bound to happen sooner or later. She couldn't stay forever…
"Magnus!"
He stopped walking, turning slowly to see who had called out to him. He couldn't believe what he saw. There was Xyra running right towards him. She was fully equipped for traveling, her khukuri swinging at her side. This perplexed him. Hadn't she decided to stay home?
When she reached him and Layton, she stopped, taking a moment to catch her breath. She looked up at the two of them, a smile on her face. She composed herself and then met their curious gazes. It was no surprise to see them so puzzled. They probably hadn't been expecting this.
"I've decided to follow you," she told Magnus brightly. "Hope that's not a problem." The sorcerer only smiled, his eyes softening and his bitter mood lifting instantly. Xyra always seemed to have that kind of effect on him.
"Not at all," he told her. "Glad to have you back." He really meant it too. He had been feeling kind of miserable without her cheery personality around. Even though she could be really rough sometimes and often enjoyed arguing with him, she always found a way to appeal. She was a pleasant person despite her sarcastic attitude.
The three of them continued on their way towards Vekta. They would be able to reach it by morning if they moved fast enough. It wasn't a long walk at all. It also wasn't that full of demons. Vekta was an entire town of sorcerers though, so it was only natural. No demon had ever attacked them, or at least hadn't for a long while. The last one had been the only one. Unfortunately, he had left the town in ruins. That one demon had done so much damage.
"What's Vekta like?" asked Xyra as she walked alongside Magnus.
"You'll see when we get there," he told her with a smile. "Don't be too surprised though if everyone calls me Albus. It's the only town where I feel comfortable with that name."
"Okay," she said softly, catching just the slightest hint of pain in his voice. Even though he was going home, he didn't seem all that happy. Then again, he didn't really have much of a reason to be. Vekta was his home, but there was no one there to truly welcome him home. He had no one. His parents were dead. She didn't quite understand why he was even bothering heading there. Other than a lot of painful memories…what would be there to greet him?