A week had passed since their encounter in the forest with Hana and Tae Taeyang. Despite their best efforts, Kite and his friends had found no further clues or unusual occurrences in the forest. The mysterious duo had not reappeared, and the ancient symbols had provided no new insights into the ruins. Frustration simmered beneath the surface, but they had not given up hope.
One sunny afternoon, Kite found himself reading a book in his room. The warm rays of the sun filtered through the open windows, casting a cozy glow on the rustic interior.
"Kite!" Liliana yelled, making him jump.
"Hey, don't give me a heart attack! I don't want to die young again!" Kite snapped.
"Cassia," Sylvana panted, entering after Liliana.
Kite tilted his head. "What about her?"
"She's returning to her village tomorrow," Liliana exclaimed.
He gasped, his mind racing. "Wait, why didn't she tell us herself? How did you hear this?"
Sylvana took a deep breath, trying to steady her breathing. "We heard it from Cassius, her grandpa. He was talking to Elder Mirrin about arranging her journey back."
Kite's heart sank. "Why wouldn't she tell us? Is she alright?"
Liliana frowned. "I think she didn't want to worry us. She's always been like that—taking on burdens alone."
Kite stood up, his book forgotten. "I need to talk to her. She can't just leave without saying anything."
Sylvana nodded. "She's by the lake. I think she wanted some time alone before her departure."
Without another word, Kite rushed out of the room, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. He couldn't believe Cassia would leave without a proper goodbye. They had been through so much together; she was like family to him.
As he approached the lake, he saw Cassia sitting on a rock, staring out at the water. The serene setting was in stark contrast to the turmoil he felt inside.
"Cassia," he called softly.
She turned around, her eyes widening in surprise. "Kite? What are you doing here?"
He walked up to her, his brow furrowed. "Why didn't you tell us you were leaving?"
Cassia sighed, looking away. "I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. You knew I would eventually go home anyway."
Kite sat down beside her, his expression softening. "We understand that, but you should have told us. We're your friends, Cassia. We care about you."
She glanced at him, her eyes betraying a hint of sadness. "I know. It's just... hard. I didn't want to see everyone upset."
Kite took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "We're already upset, Cassia. But not because you're leaving. We're upset because you didn't trust us enough to share this with us. I thought we were friends."
Cassia looked down at her hands, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry, Kite. I didn't mean to hurt you guys. It's just... hard to say goodbye to the only other friends I've ever had."
He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. Just promise me you'll stay safe. And that you'll come back when you can."
Cassia nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. "I promise. And I'll make sure to bring back any information that might help us. Who knows, maybe my village has some old records or artifacts that could be useful."
Kite's eyes brightened at the possibility. "That would be amazing. But more than anything, I just want you to be alright."
They sat in companionable silence for a while, the gentle lapping of the water providing a soothing backdrop. Finally, Kite spoke again. "Even if we're apart, we'll always be connected."
Cassia smiled, her usual spark returning. "You're right. And don't worry, I'll be back before you know it. Just try not to get into too much trouble without me."
Kite chuckled. "No promises with Liliana around. But we'll do our best."
Cassia blushed and pulled her knees close to her chest. "Thanks, Kite."
He blinked. "For what?"
"For being my friend," she said softly, almost hesitantly. "Even though I was originally rude to you when we first met. I didn't make it easy for you, but you never gave up on me."
Kite smiled warmly, shaking his head. "That's all water under the bridge now, Cassia."
She furrowed her brow, confusion evident in her eyes. "Water under the bridge? What does that mean?"
Kite chuckled, realizing that idioms from his world didn't always translate well here. "It means that it's in the past, and it doesn't matter anymore. We've moved on from it, and it doesn't affect our friendship now."
Cassia's expression softened as she processed his words. "I see. Well, I'm glad we moved past it. You've been a great friend, Kite. And I'm really going to miss you all."
"We'll miss you too, Cassia," Kite said sincerely. "But this isn't goodbye forever. It's just until we meet again."
She nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Yeah, until we meet again."
Liliana huffed as she jumped out from behind some bushes, almost giving poor Kite a heart attack.
"Liliana! Stop appearing without warning!"
She crossed her arms and walked over. "Cassia, don't talk like you're gone already! We still got a whole day left! Let's spend it playing with our friends!"
Cassia chuckled at Liliana's exuberance. "You're right, Liliana. We do have a whole day left. Let's make the most of it."
Kite smiled, feeling a weight lift from his chest. "Yeah, let's go back to Liliana's place and have some fun."
With renewed energy, the trio made their way back to Liliana's house. As they approached, they saw Sylvana, Tomas, Ludo, and Elian already in the backyard, seemingly in the midst of a spirited discussion.
"Hey, everyone!" Liliana called out. "We've got a whole day to spend together, so let's play tag!"
Elian's eyes lit up with excitement. "Tag? I'm in! This is going to be awesome!"
Ludo adjusted his glasses, a playful glint in his eyes. "I suppose a break from our serious endeavors wouldn't hurt. Count me in."
Sylvana and Tomas exchanged amused glances and nodded in agreement. "Alright, let's do it," Sylvana said.
The group quickly established the rules for their game of tag, and soon, the backyard was filled with laughter and shouts of excitement. Kite found himself grinning from ear to ear as he chased after his friends, the worries and uncertainties of their quest momentarily forgotten.
Cassia, despite her usual high strung demeanor, was running and laughing alongside the others. Kite couldn't help but feel grateful for this moment of respite, a brief return to the carefree days of their childhood.
"You're it, Kite!" Elian shouted as he tapped Kite's shoulder and sprinted away.
Kite laughed, giving chase. "You won't get away that easily, Elian!"
The game continued for what felt like hours, the sun slowly dipping towards the horizon. As the sky turned shades of pink and orange, the group finally collapsed onto the grass, panting and laughing.
"That was so much fun," Liliana said between breaths, her face flushed with joy.
"Yeah," Sylvana agreed, wiping sweat from her brow. "We needed that."
Cassia sat up, looking around at her friends with a warm smile. "I'm really going to miss you all. But I'm glad we had this day together."
Tomas, who had been quietly observing, nodded. "We'll miss you too, Cassia. But we know you'll come back. And when you do, we'll have even more adventures to share."
Ludo adjusted his glasses once more, a thoughtful expression on his face. "And who knows? Maybe by the time you return, we'll have uncovered more about the prophecy and the mysteries surrounding Uto."
Kite nodded, feeling a sense of camaraderie and determination. "Exactly. We'll keep pushing forward, and we'll be ready for whatever comes our way."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the backyard, the group sat in comfortable silence, basking in the warmth of their friendship. It was a moment they would all cherish, a reminder of the strength and support they found in each other.
Eventually, as the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, they reluctantly made their way back inside. The house was filled with a sense of contentment and hope, a stark contrast to the uncertainty that had plagued them earlier.
That night, as Kite lay in bed, he couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. They had faced many challenges already, and there were undoubtedly more to come. But with friends like Cassia, Liliana, Sylvana, Tomas, Ludo, and Elian by his side, he knew they could overcome anything.
Tomorrow, Cassia would leave for her village, but their bond would remain unbroken. And when she returned, they would continue their quest together, stronger and more determined than ever.
With that comforting thought, Kite drifted off to sleep, ready to face whatever the future held.
The next morning arrived all too quickly. The early rays of the sun spilled through the windows, casting a gentle light over the household. Despite the warmth in the air, there was a palpable sense of melancholy as Kite and his friends gathered to see Cassia off.
Cassia stood by the horse of her grandpa's wagon, her belongings already packed and secured. She wore a cloak that seemed to shimmer softly in the morning light.
Kite felt a lump form in his throat as he approached her, knowing that this was the moment they had all been dreading.
Liliana, trying to keep the mood light, forced a smile. "Remember, Cassia, if you find any amazing artifacts or records, you better bring them back! We need all the help we can get."
Cassia chuckled, though her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I promise, Liliana. I'll keep my eyes peeled for anything useful."
Sylvana stepped forward and gulped. She took several breaths before finally speaking. "Take care of yourself, Cassia. And don't hesitate to send word if you need anything. I'll have my friends take us to your place if it comes down to it."
Cassia nodded, her voice trembling with emotion. "Thank you, Sylvana. I'll keep that in mind."
Elian, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere, grinned. "And don't forget to bring back some of those delicious pastries from your village. I've been craving them ever since you told us about them."
Cassia laughed, a genuine sound that lifted everyone's spirits just a little. "I'll see what I can do, Elian."
Tomas and Ludo walked up together, each giving her a firm handshake.
Tomas, the quiet observer, simply said, "We'll miss you, Cassia."
Ludo added, "And remember, the library is always open for you. We have plenty of research to continue once you're back."
Finally, Kite stepped forward. He had rehearsed what he wanted to say, but now, standing before Cassia, the words seemed to escape him. He took a deep breath, his eyes meeting hers. "Cassia, just stay safe. Remember, this isn't goodbye; it's just 'see you later.' We'll be here, waiting for your return."
Cassia's eyes filled with tears, and she hugged Kite tightly. "Thank you, Kite. For everything. I'll miss you all so much, but I'll be back. And when I do, we'll continue our journey together."
With one last look at her friends, Cassia mounted her horse. She took a deep breath, her expression a mixture of resolve and sadness. "Take care, everyone. I'll see you soon."
With a final wave, Cassia joined her grandpa in the front of the wagon. The group watched as she rode away, the wagon gradually becoming a distant silhouette against the backdrop of the rising sun.
Kite stood there long after she had disappeared from view, a sense of emptiness. It was never easy saying bye to a friend.
Liliana, sensing the heaviness in the air, placed a comforting hand on Kite's shoulder. "She'll be back, Kite. And when she is, we'll have tons of fun together!"
Kite nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. "Yeah, you're right."