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She moved on to a small stool. A carved panel. An armchair.

The design was deceptively simple—curved arms, balanced legs, a back that required precise tension in every joint. It took her longer than anything she had built before. She measured everything twice. Sanded until her hands ached. Took it apart twice when the alignment displeased her.

When it was finished, it was her best work.

Haruko-san walked around it slowly. Touched the curve of the arm, pressed weight into the seat, tested the balance.

Silence stretched until finally, he looked at her.

"You have learned the basics," he said. "The rest is practice."

He folded his hands into his sleeves, watching her closely. "If you wish to stay, you will continue. If you wish to follow your heart…" His gaze sharpened slightly. "I will not hold you back."

The workshop felt very quiet in the hours after everyone had left.

"You are always welcome to return. You will always have a home here."

That, from him, was more than praise. It was acceptance.

Fae smiled softly. Her mind had already made its choice.

By evening, Aiko came hurrying into her room as she packed, with Kenji just behind her.

Kenji listened without interrupting. His expression did not change, but something resolved quietly in his eyes.

"We will go with you," Aiko declared immediately.

Sora—loyal and earnest—appeared at the gate, as if conjured by a thought, and nodded in agreement.

Kenji inclined his head once. Blaidd had entrusted her protection to him, and he would not fail that trust.

The path north waited.

Sometimes, you need to make your own choices in life. Because something in her heart told her that all was not well.

Chapter 45

The journey back was as unpleasant as the one months before. Kenji, looking paler than usual while clutching a bowl, grumbled that there were times he wished he was a wooden toy without a stomach. Sora was not much better. Only Aiko weathered the rolling and pitching like a true sailor. She giggled while the others were on their knees once they reached dry land. They managed to catch a ride half the way and travelled the rest on foot.

But even as they stepped onto the packlands, it felt different from the place Fae had left months ago. The trees stood like silent sentinels. No laughter filtered from the training fields. Fae felt it, the change the moment her boots touched northern soil.

Something was wrong.

One of the children Fae used to teach, Neril, hurried to meet them, his eyes wide with surprise at finding Fae there.

"Lady Fae, why...what?" he stuttered as he tried to make sense of the small group. But he gathered himself quickly as he led the way. "Come...I have let the Alpha know."

He walked next to Fae while he relayed the grim news. There had been two more deaths. Two more shrivelled bodies were found in woven nests of branches and leaves.

There was still no trace of Eira.

The words felt like stones in her stomach, but Fae tried not to let the disappointment get to her. As they got closer to the heart of the packland, there were more enforcers.

As they approached, one of the enforcers stiffened when he caught sight of Neril leading the group.

"For the last time, Neril! Didn't Sulien tear you a new one the last time you went to the borders alone?" he raged before looking up. Recognition flared across his face. "Lady Fae—"

But she did not wait. She reached inward through the bond, which now felt as easy as breathing. Now that the barriers were down, Blaidd didn't keep anything from her—not his emotions, not his thoughts.