Chapter 6: The Path to Her
The morning sun had barely risen, casting a pale orange glow over the rooftops. Noah stood in the small kitchen, adjusting the strap of the satchel slung across his shoulder. Paul, already dressed for work, handed him a tightly wrapped bundle of dried food.
"Are you sure about this?" Marie asked, arms crossed, her face betraying the worry she tried to mask. "You’ll be staying out there? Alone?"
"I won’t be alone," Noah replied with a small, reassuring smile. "It’s a proper establishment. They’ve got people working there, and I’ll have a bed and meals. I just figured it’s better to get used to being away... before Arkesia."
Marie’s eyes softened but didn’t lose their tension. "Still. It’s sudden."
"I’ll write every day if you want," he offered.
She shook her head with a sigh, then stepped forward and adjusted the collar of his coat like she used to when he was little. "Just stay warm. And eat properly. And—"
Paul chuckled from behind. "Let the boy breathe, Marie. He’s growing up. And he’s got your stubbornness."
"Lucky me," Noah muttered under his breath, earning a soft smack on the shoulder.
"I packed you some dried fruit and bread," Marie said, slipping the parcel into his satchel. "In case you skip meals working too hard."
Noah’s gaze lingered on her hands for a second longer than usual. He wasn’t used to this kind of warmth.
"I’ll be back before the month ends," he said.