Chapter 73 EMPTY HANDS, BROKEN HOME
The disappointment on her parents' faces was hard to miss, but she couldn't really blame them. She had been gone for ages, yet she had returned empty-handed; no money, no weapons, and no partner. It made sense why they were pushing the idea of her and Magnus. He was cute and charming enough, but beneath that friendly exterior, he was far too manipulative for her taste. They were just friends, and as far as she was concerned, it would stay that way.
"Well," Nereo said, sitting down and gesturing for Xyra to join him. "Let's hear about this little adventure of yours. I’m sure you have plenty to tell us."
Meanwhile, Magnus was wandering through the town, taking in the state of things. To put it mildly, the place was a wreck. Everything was falling apart, and there wasn't a single patch of green in sight; no trees, no grass, and just a landscape that looked like it had been strangled by a permanent drought.
He kept walking toward the edge of town, his mind racing. Xyra had mentioned the man who owned the place was a cheapskate who barely paid the locals enough to survive. If the owner turned out to be living in luxury while the town rotted, Magnus decided he would have to step in. He could pull a few strings using his influence; or if it came down to it, he could just buy the whole place himself.
His body began to glow a bit as he started to cast a spell. From behind him, Layton was watching. Needless to say, he was a bit confused. There didn't seem to be the need to cast a spell here.
"What is that you are doing, sir?" he asked curiously.
"I want to take a look around," Magnus said, pushing off the ground as his levitation spell kicked in.
He drifted higher until the town began to shrink beneath him. In the distance, he spotted Mr. Vidar's place. It wasn't just a house; it was a massive mansion, looking completely out of place against the backdrop of the struggling village. It left a bitter taste in his mouth... Vidar was living in total luxury while everyone else barely scraped by.
Magnus touched back down and started the walk back to Xyra's. He had seen enough. Now that he understood the situation, he needed a plan to help. He considered lending the town some money to patch up their homes, or perhaps using his wood magic to handle the repairs himself. He quickly dismissed the magic, though; wood spells were notoriously wasteful, and he was not about to clear-cut a whole forest just to rebuild a few streets.
When he reached the house, he gave the door a polite knock. Even though he knew he was welcome, he wasn't the type to just barge in... that was a quick way to get on someone's bad side, and he wanted to stay in this family's good graces. After all, they were his friend's parents.
Nereo opened the door and ushered Layton and Magnus inside. Both boys gave Liv a deep bow. It was probably a bit too formal for a simple household, but she didn't seem to mind; she just smiled, clearly charmed by their manners.
"Take a seat," Liv said. They sat in silence as she stood and started toward the kitchen. "I’ll get you both something to drink. I'm sure it’s been a long trip."
"Thank you," Magnus said, offering a polite nod.
Xyra's dad followed Liv into the kitchen, leaving the three of them alone in the sudden quiet. For a moment, no one spoke, the air thick with a lingering awkwardness until Magnus finally broke it.
"Your parents seem really nice," he said, looking at Xyra.
She gave him a small smile. "They are. I've really missed them."
"How long has it been?"
"About three years," she said. "I left when I was seventeen. A hunter from the village walked me as far as Drester, and I just drifted between the nearby towns from there."
Layton leaned forward. "If you don't mind me asking... why did you leave in the first place?"
A faint, sad smile touched her lips. It was still hard to admit that the trip had been a failure. She had set out with the weight of her family on her shoulders, hoping to change everything, but she was returning with nothing to show for it.
"I was trying to earn money," she explained quietly. "I wanted to save enough to support my parents, maybe even buy the town back from Mr. Vidar. But I wasn't very good at any of the honest jobs I tried. Stealing just felt easier, so I became a thief. It’s surprising how many people are looking to hire one, and I turned out to be pretty good at it."
Everything finally made sense. Xyra's constant "get-rich-quick" schemes weren't born out of greed or a love for luxury; they were for the town. She wasn’t the shallow woman he had pegged her for. Still, even a noble goal didn't quite excuse some of the shady stunts she’d pulled along the way.
"So, you went traveling just for the money?" Magnus asked.
"Yeah."
"Did you ever want to go home?"
"Of course," she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I love this place. I’ve wanted to come back for a long time, but I couldn't come back empty-handed. I didn't have a way to make it happen until now."
"I see…" Magnus went quiet, the gears turning. If he stepped in, if he bought the town or funded its recovery, Xyra wouldn't have a reason to keep traveling. She’d stay here with her parents. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. He had actually grown to like her company; she made the trip a lot more interesting. Plus, he dreaded the idea of being alone with Layton. Without Xyra there to balance things out, his guard would spend every waking moment nagging him to go home. Why does everything have to be this challenging and complicated? Since the town had no inn, Xyra's family insisted on putting them up for the night. Neither Magnus nor Layton wanted to be a burden, so they both settled in near the entryway. Layton had claimed a spot on the floor, while Magnus leaned back in a chair, arms crossed and head low. To anyone passing by, they both looked fast asleep.
Upstairs, Xyra was wide awake. It wasn't that she was anxious, exactly; her mind was just too crowded for sleep. She was home at last, but the realization was bittersweet. Her parents clearly missed her, yet her mission had been a failure. She hadn't returned with the fortune needed to save the town or even help her family.
With a sigh, she kicked off the sheets and got up to take a walk. She didn't get far. When she reached the entryway, she saw Magnus huddled in his chair. He looked miserable. She knew him well enough to know he couldn't sleep sitting up; if he wasn't lying flat, he wasn't resting.
She watched as a shiver ran through him. It was a cold night, and his thin cloak offered almost no protection against the draft. Usually, their campfires kept the chill at bay, but here, there was nothing to keep him warm.
She hesitated for a second before stepping toward him. She wasn't entirely thrilled with her own idea, but she knew she wouldn't get any sleep if she left him like this.
"Magnus?" she whispered.
His eyes snapped open instantly. The dark circles under them told the whole story—he hadn't slept a wink.
"You don't have to sleep there," she said softly.
"The floor was too cold," he whispered back, stifling a yawn. "I didn't have much of a choice."
"But you aren't going to get any rest like that."
"I’m fine," he insisted, though his voice lacked conviction. "Don't worry about me."