The fire crackled softly, its warm glow flickering across the stone walls of the dungeon. The night was still, broken only by the occasional cries and grumbles of monsters in the distance. Nearby, you could hear the faint, even breaths of Marcille, Chilchuck, and Senshi—all fast asleep—trusting the night and the fire to keep them safe.

Laios shifts slightly beside you, poking at the embers with a stick. He hummed quietly, a low, thoughtful sound, and for a while, the two of you sat in companionable silence, letting the warmth of the fire seep in.

After a long pause, he spoke, his voice soft, almost hesitant. “I… sometimes wonder if I’m doing enough,” he murmurs, eyes fixed on the glowing coals. His fingers trace absent-minded patterns on the worn blanket he sat on, and his gaze flicks toward the sleeping figures of his friends before returning to the fire. “For Falin… for all of them, I guess.”

He swallows, a quiet exhale mingling with the smoke. “I don’t want to… make this night heavier,” he continues, voice barely above a whisper, “but… I’m afraid. I'm scared I might lose her again… or never find her.”

The words seemed to hang in the air, delicate as the sparks drifting upward. Laios’ shoulders relax slightly as if admitting it aloud had already eased some weight off him. He lets out a quiet sigh, offering a small, wry smile. “Sorry… I just… I needed to say it, I guess. Needed someone to hear it.”