"This is really good," Cassia said, beaming as she rubbed her stomach.
Liliana snickered. "Daddy and Mommy are the best cooks."
"And your grandma?" her grandma asked, snickering.
The restless girl grinned. "You too, Grandma!"
"So, where are we gonna go today?" Sylvana asked, smiling.
Liliana jumped off her seat. "How about we show Cassia the ruins?"
Kite felt like sinking. They were supposed to keep the ruins a secret!
Cassia blinked. "Ruins?"
She nodded.
"Uh, Liliana," Kite mumbled, giving her the stink eye.
Liliana caught Kite's look and her smile faltered. "Oh, I mean, it's just an old place we found. Nothing special, really."
Kite let out a silent sigh of relief. "Yeah, it's just some old stones and stuff. We were thinking of exploring the forest today, right Liliana?"
Liliana quickly picked up on Kite's cue. "Yes! The forest! There are so many cool plants and maybe some animals we can see!"
Cassia raised an eyebrow, her interest clearly piqued, but she nodded. "The forest sounds like an adventure too. I'm in."
After the meal, the group cleaned up and headed out.
Kite blinked as he heard tiny footsteps follow behind them. He turned and saw Tomas trailing them.
"Tomas," Liliana said.
"I wanna go with you," he said, moving his little hands up and down. "Last time, I didn't get to go with ya to the ruins!"
Liliana knelt down to Tomas's level, her expression gentle. "I know you want to come, but the forest can be dangerous. There are a lot of things out there that aren't safe for little ones."
Tomas pouted, his lower lip trembling. "But I can be careful. I'll stay close to you and Kite."
Kite exchanged a look with Liliana, seeing the determination in the young boy's eyes. "How about this, Tomas? You can come with us to the Whispering Forest, but remember to stay close to us at all times. Deal?"
Tomas's face lit up, and he nodded vigorously. "Deal!"
With a plan in place, the group set off, Tomas skipping happily between Kite and Liliana. They made their way to the apothecary, where they found Ludo organizing shelves with meticulous care.
"Ludo!" Liliana called out as they entered.
Ludo looked up, a smile spreading across his face. "Hey, guys! What's up?"
"We're heading to the forest for a bit of exploration," Kite explained. "Want to join us?"
Ludo wiped his hands on his apron and considered the offer. "Sounds like fun. Let me just tell my mom I'll be out." He glanced at Cassia. "And who is this?"
"She's Cassia, Cassius's granddaughter," Liliana said. She hugged the redhead. "And our new friend!"
Cassia blushed.
Ludo smiled. "I see. Nice to meet you Cassia. We'll let me go ask Mom, I'll be right back!"
Moments later, Ludo joined the group, and they continued on to Elian's place. The aspiring warrior was outside, practicing with his new sword when they arrived.
"Elian!" Liliana called out.
Elian stopped mid-swing and turned, his face breaking into a grin. "Hey, everyone! What brings you here?"
"We're going on an adventure in the forest," Liliana said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You in?"
Elian sheathed his sword. "You don't even have to ask. I'm always ready for an adventure."
The group, now complete, set off towards the forest, their spirits high. Tomas clung to Liliana's hand. Together, they stepped into the green embrace of the trees, ready for whatever the day might bring.
The forest welcomed them with its lush greenery and the chorus of birds.
Sylvana smiled and held her hand up. A bird descended from the tree tops and landed in her hand.
Cassia gasped. "Wow, you're like one of them storybook princesses. Wait, don't tell me you're a princess too!"
The white-haired girl laughed awkwardly. "No. I'm from a peasant family."
"Wait, too?" Elian asked, glancing at Cassia.
Cassia turned away. "I met a princess once. Her name was Aurora."
Ludo hummed. "Doesn't sound like someone from our country."
"That's because she's from another kingdom."
"Hey, Ludo. You're well read. Think you could find something out about Aurora for us? Cassia wants to deliver her a letter."
Ludo pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Aurora, huh? That's not a common name around here. But I'll definitely take a look at the library and see if there are any articles or historical records about her. There's a chance she might be mentioned in texts about neighboring kingdoms or notable figures."
Cassia's face lit up with hope. "Really? That would be amazing, Ludo. Thank you!"
Ludo nodded confidently. "No problem. I love a good research challenge. Just give me some time, and I'll dig up whatever I can find."
Elian clapped Ludo on the back. "If anyone can find information, it's you, Ludo. You're like a detective when it comes to books."
The group continued their walk, the forest around them alive with the sounds of nature. As they ventured deeper, the conversation turned to plans for their exploration.
At one point, they came across a small clearing with a crystal-clear pond. Liliana's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Let's take a break here! The water looks so inviting."
Sylvana smiled and nodded.
Kite grinned, feeling the same sense of adventure. "Sure, why not?"
They sat by the pond, dipping their feet in the cool water and enjoying the serenity of the moment. Kite felt the tension he had been carrying slowly melt away.
Tomas's eyes sparkled as he watched some fishes swim through the pond. "Fishies."
Sylvana smiled and nodded. "Yeah, they're adorable!"
Elian scrunched his nose as he knelt down beside them. "Fish are cute?"
She nodded. "Yeah, everything has a certain cuteness to it, even the scariest of animals."
He chuckled. "We have way different concepts of what cuteness is."
Kite turned toward Cassia, a thoughtful expression on her face. "You know, I was thinking about what you said earlier. About how fire is about creation as much as it is about destruction. It really made me see things differently."
Cassia smiled. "I'm glad. Fire is a powerful element, but it's all about how you choose to use it."
Liliana grinned. "And with Cassia teaching you, you'll be a fire master in no time."
Kite chuckled. "I hope so."
Cassia chuckled and puffed her chest out again. "Of course he would be. He has me as his tutor!"
He sighed. Her head might've been bigger than Liliana's.
"So, how long will you be staying in Ald Town, Cassia?" Elian asked.
Cassia glanced around the serene clearing, taking in the peaceful atmosphere before answering Elian's question. "I'll be staying in Ald Town for a while. Grandpa wants me to learn more about different kinds of metalwork and improve my combat skills. Plus, I've got to admit, I like it here. The people are friendly, and there's always something new to learn."
Liliana clapped her hands together. "That's great! We'll have plenty of time for more adventures then!"
Kite nodded in agreement, glad to have Cassia around. "It's good to have you with us. You bring a lot of… fiery energy to the group."
Cassia laughed, her earlier arrogance replaced by genuine warmth. "Thanks, Kite. I'm happy to be part of the group."
As they continued to relax by the pond, Sylvana gently released the bird, which took flight, soaring back into the canopy. Tomas watched it go, his eyes filled with wonder.
"Maybe one day, I'll be able to fly like that," Tomas said dreamily.
Sylvana smiled at him. "Who knows? With enough practice and magic, maybe you will."
Cassia hummed and glanced at Kite, a smile on her face. "So, the ruins Liliana and Tomas mentioned..."
Kite gulped.
Cassia crossed her arms and fixed Kite with a pointed look. "If we're friends, why can't you let me in on the secret of the ruins? I mean, I'm part of this group of friends now, right?"
Kite felt a knot form in his stomach. He knew Liliana had spoken without thinking, but the ruins were a sensitive topic, and not everyone was supposed to know about them.
Liliana nodded as she stood up and began to march off. "In that case, let's go see them!"
He sighed. This hyper girl...
The group followed Liliana as she led them deeper into the forest, the light dimming as they ventured into an area where the trees grew thicker and the underbrush denser. Kite could sense the hesitation in the air, but Liliana's enthusiasm seemed to dispel any doubts.
As the shadows grew longer and the path less clear, Kite unsheathed his golden sword. The blade glowed like a lantern, casting a warm glow around them.
"Wow, that's quite the sword you've got there," Cassia remarked, her voice tinged with genuine admiration. "It's like it's made of sunlight."
Kite smiled, holding the sword aloft. "It's been with me through a lot. It seems to react to the presence of the ruins for some reason."
She hummed. "Think the people who made the ruins made your sword?"
Kite nodded. "That's my theory at the moment, but we've only begun to scratch the surface."
Liliana grinned. "Maybe with Cassia and Tomas with us, we can uncover new stuff!"
Ludo sighed. "We got to be careful, the first visit wasn't dangerous, but if we do run into danger this time, we won't have Uncle Darian with us."
Tomas glanced at his sister. "Should we go get Papa?"
She grinned. "We'll be fine!"
Kite felt a pit in his stomach. Such words usually led to things not being fine.