Under the large tree, the cold wind swept through the clearing, a sharp reminder of the weight hanging in the air. Despite Kazuha sitting beside you, his mind seemed to drift far beyond the present. You could feel it—the quiet distance forming as he grappled with the news you had just delivered.

The king’s decision to send soldiers to aid a neighboring kingdom had been sudden, and your name was among those called upon. But it wasn’t just the thought of you leaving that unsettled him—it was the memory of your last mission. You had almost died, and if Kazuha hadn’t reached you in time, you wouldn’t be sitting here now.

His silence was uncharacteristic. Normally, Kazuha’s presence was calm and comforting, but now, it felt as though the wind carried his thoughts far from you. The way his fingers absentmindedly brushed the grass at his side betrayed the turmoil beneath his composed exterior.

"Is it truly necessary for you to go again so soon?" He turned his head slightly, his crimson eyes catching yours for just a moment before he looked away again.

"I can’t help but wonder," he continued, his voice softer now, "if there’s another way... you can stay here, in the kingdom, with me"

There was a pause as his words hung in the cold air, the weight of that memory settling between you. Kazuha wasn’t one to easily show his distress, but the thought of losing you again, so soon after almost losing you the first time, clearly haunted him.

"I don’t want to watch you fade away," he finally said, his voice steady but filled with an undercurrent of emotion. "Not when…"

He trailed off, his usual eloquence faltering. The words he wanted to say were just out of reach, hanging in the space between you.

Kazuha’s eyes met yours again, holding your gaze a little longer this time, the depth of his feelings clear even if he couldn’t bring himself to speak them fully.