The moon hung high in the night sky as Ari and his companions walked through the quiet streets of the capital. The cobblestone roads glimmered faintly in the soft silver light, and the distant hum of the Hero’s Gala still lingered in the air, though it was far behind them now.

“Finally,” Yuri muttered, stretching her arms above her head. “I thought we’d never get out of there.”

“You could’ve left anytime,” Finoria teased, her warm brown eyes glinting with mischief. “But you didn’t want to miss all the action, did you?”

Yuri shot her a glare. “I stayed to make sure you didn’t get into trouble.”

“Me? Trouble?” Finoria placed a hand over her chest in mock offense. “I’m the picture of responsibility.”

“That’s debatable,” Kimi said softly, her serene smile betraying her amusement.

Ari glanced at them, his gaze steady. “Get some rest. We’ve got an early morning.”

“Bossing us around already?” Yuri asked, though her tone was more tired than annoyed.

“You’ll thank me tomorrow,” Ari replied calmly.

“Doubt it,” Yuri muttered, but she didn’t argue further. She and Kimi exchanged glances before heading toward the inn where they’d arranged to stay.

“Goodnight, Ari,” Kimi said softly, her smile lingering as she followed Yuri.

“Night,” Finoria called after them, waving lazily before turning to Ari with a grin. “Guess that just leaves us.”

Ari raised an eyebrow. “You’re not heading in?”

“Not yet,” Finoria replied, her tone unusually soft. “It’s a nice night. Seems like a shame to waste it.”

Ari considered her for a moment before nodding. “Fine. Let’s walk.”

The two of them strolled through the quiet streets, the sound of their footsteps echoing faintly against the stone. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of flowers from a nearby garden.

Finoria stayed close to Ari’s side, her usual playful demeanor tempered by the calm of the evening. After a while, she broke the silence.

“You handled yourself well back there,” she said, her voice light but sincere.

Ari glanced at her. “It wasn’t anything special.”

Finoria chuckled softly. “See, that’s what makes you so frustrating. You take down a guy like Drelvar without even trying, and then act like it’s no big deal.”

“Because it isn’t,” Ari replied evenly.

“For you, maybe,” she said, her warm brown eyes studying him. “But for the rest of us? Moments like that remind us why you’re… well, you.”

Ari didn’t respond immediately, his gaze drifting to the cobblestones beneath their feet. “I don’t do it to be admired,” he said finally. “I do it because it’s what I’m good at.”

Finoria smiled faintly. “You’re good at a lot of things, Ari. But that’s not the point.” She stepped slightly closer, brushing her shoulder against his. “The point is, you don’t give yourself enough credit. You mean more to us—to me—than you realize.”

Ari stopped walking, turning to face her fully. His dark eyes searched hers, their usual sharpness softened by the moonlight. “You’re all important to me,” he said quietly.

“I know that,” Finoria replied, her tone uncharacteristically gentle. “But sometimes I wonder if you realize how much youmatter to us. To me.”

The air between them grew still, the quiet of the night wrapping around them like a cocoon. For once, Finoria’s teasing grin was gone, replaced by something softer—more vulnerable.

Ari tilted his head slightly, his gaze steady. “You don’t have to wonder.”

Finoria blinked, caught off guard by the weight of his words. For a moment, she hesitated, then let out a soft laugh, her usual confidence creeping back into her voice. “You really have a way of saying the perfect thing, don’t you?”

“I just tell the truth,” Ari said simply.

She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “Well, here’s some truth for you: you’re more than just a leader to me, Ari. Always have been.”

Ari didn’t pull away as she reached up, her fingers lightly brushing against his arm. There was no teasing in her gaze now, only quiet sincerity.

“I know,” he said softly, his voice as steady as ever.

Finoria let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, her lips curling into a faint smile. “Good. I’d hate for you to miss the obvious.”

The faintest hint of a smirk tugged at Ari’s lips. “I don’t miss much.”

Her laughter rang out softly, breaking the tension just enough to remind them both of the ease they usually shared.

“Alright, wise guy,” she said, stepping back slightly but staying close. “You win this round. But don’t think I’m letting you off the hook. You owe me more nights like this.”

“We’ll see,” Ari replied, his tone teasing but gentle.

As they resumed their walk, the quiet camaraderie between them remained, the unspoken bond they shared stronger than ever.

For all the chaos and noise of their lives, moments like this reminded Ari why he valued the people by his side. And for Finoria, it was a step closer to showing him just how much he truly meant to her.