Morning breaks softly over Lumaire, the seventh day of peace settling over the city like a warm breath.

  Golden light washes over rooftops, drifting through open windows and brushing against stone streets where merchants begin their shouting, church bells ring faintly, and airships drift lazily above the canals.

  Eis stands alone on the balcony overlooking the city.

  This is where she had watched the festival lanterns with Ronan not long ago.

  Where she had weighed her place in a world that isn’t hers.

  And today—

  her decision is already made.

  She will stay.

  Not for duty.

  Not from obligation.

  Not out of fear of what the world might become.

  But because, in this city, she found something she never expected:

  Peace even when there was still darkness in the world.

  People she wanted to have around her .

  People who were constantly concerned about her.

  By pure accident, she crossed paths with Team Argent—

  and they risked everything to follow her into darkness without hesitation.

  Eis closes her hand around the balcony railing, sunlight warming the leather of her glove.

  She will stay because of them.

  A knock breaks the quiet.

  “Lady Eis,” a messenger says gently, “the Guildmaster requests your presence.”

  Eis follows through the familiar halls, the faint hum of ley magic lingering in the stone.

  The Guildmaster’s study is bathed in warm morning sunlight.

  He looks up, studying her expression with a knowing calm.

  “Eis,” he says. “A week has passed. You’ve had time to rest.”

  A subtle smile.

  “And time to think.”

  She sits silently, waiting.

  “So,” the Guildmaster continues, voice steady, “have you decided what you intend to do? Whether you remain with us… or whether Eldoria should expect to lose you to another kingdom?”

  He doesn’t hide the truth:

  “We would like you to stay. But we lack the power to force you. Someone with your… nature… will go where she chooses, and no kingdom could hope to stop it.”

  Eis takes a long breath, gaze drifting to the wide window where the city glows faintly in the morning haze.

  “I’ll stay,” she says at last.

  The Guildmaster tilts his head. “May I ask why?”

  Eis meets his eyes.

  “Because I found something here,” she says quietly.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “Something worth staying for.”

  He waits—patient, curious.

  “Team Argent,” she continues.

  “They chose me.

  Worried for me.

  Followed me into the Vault without hesitation.

  They… care.

  I won’t walk away from that.”

  The Guildmaster’s expression softens—relief hidden between lines of exhaustion and pride.

  “Then that,” he says, “is the best answer I could have hoped for.”

  He produces a small insignia from his desk—white-silver, carved into the shape of an eye within a sunburst.

  “No rank. No title. No orders,” he explains. “Just a recognition that you stand with us—by your own will.”

  Eis accepts the insignia, the metal warm in her palm.

  “Thank you,” she whispers.

  “No,” the Guildmaster replies.

  “Thank you, Eis. For choosing Lumaire.”

  Eis steps back into the sunlit courtyard, the insignia hidden beneath her cloak.

  Children run between market stalls.

  Vendors call out prices over clattering wheels.

  The city breathes easily, unaware of how close it came to losing everything.

  No one stares at her now.

  No one whispers.

  To them, she’s simply another traveler among thousands.

  But to Team Argent… she is something else.

  And to her, they have become something she never expected.

  Dusk settles slowly.

  Soft orange melts into deep violet above the rooftops.

  Lanterns flicker along the canals.

  Ronan joins her on the balcony, leaning beside her, arms crossed. His hair is still damp from training, cloak casually thrown over one shoulder.

  “Guildmaster talked to you?” he asks.

  “Yes.”

  “And?”

  Eis turns the silver insignia between her fingers.

  “I’m staying.”

  Ronan releases a slow breath — not relief exactly, but something gentler, deeper.

  “Good,” he murmurs. “That’s… really good.”

  “You’re not going to ask why?” she asks quietly.

  “Don’t need to,” Ronan replies.

  His voice is warm, steady.

  “I know you. You don’t fight because you want to. You fight for people.”

  He glances toward the guild hall behind them.

  “You stayed because of us.”

  Eis doesn’t deny it.

  “I found something here worth protecting,” she admits softly.

  “I didn’t expect that.”

  Ronan smiles — small, real.

  “Then we’ll make sure it’s worth it.”

  The two stand together as stars pierce the sky, the ley lines humming faintly beneath the city.

  Ronan nudges her lightly with his shoulder.

  “You know,” he adds, “you’re allowed to live now. Not just survive.”

  Eis exhales, the tension in her shoulders softening.

  “I think… I’m learning how.”

  He chuckles.

  “Then let us teach you.”

  For the first time since arriving in this world, Eis understands something she never dared to hope for:

  She isn’t staying because she’s bound to fate.

  She isn’t staying because she’s needed.

  She isn’t staying because she’s powerful.

  She’s staying because she found a place where she belongs

  —because of the people who chose her,

  and the people she chose in return.

  And for the first time in a long time… that’s enough.