DON'S POV"You're staring again, Don," Accalia's voice broke through my reverie, accompanied by a teasing smile that made my heart skip a beat.I quickly averted my gaze, cursing myself for letting my guard down. "Just making sure you're not getting into trouble," I replied, mustering up the usual gruffness in my tone.But as Accalia laughed and leaned in closer, her shoulder brushing against mine, I couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth spread through me. It was ridiculous, really. Here I was, pretending to be indifferent towards her, when all I wanted to do was pull her into my arms and never let go."Come on, Don," she said, her voice softening. "It's our last night here. Let's make the most of it."I hesitated for a moment, torn between my desire to keep up appearances and my longing to spend every remaining moment with her. But in the end, the choice was clear."Alright," I said, forcing a nonchalant shrug. "But don't expect me to dance or anything."Accalia grinned, her eyes
DON'S POV"I was smitten by a lass by the name of Eliza," he confessed, a wistful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "She was the most beautiful girl in the village, with hair as golden as the sun and eyes that sparkled like the stars."A collective sigh rippled through the crowd, and Elder Orel chuckled softly before continuing his tale."But alas, love is never without its challenges," he said, his tone turning serious. "For you see, Eliza was the daughter of the village blacksmith, and my family, well, let's just say they had their reservations about our union."Accalia leaned in closer, her eyes shining with curiosity. "What did you do?" she asked eagerly.Elder Orel chuckled. "What any lovestruck fool would do, my dear," he replied. "I wrote her poems, serenaded her under the moonlight, and even challenged her father to a duel for her hand in marriage."A ripple of laughter erupted from the crowd, and even I couldn't help but crack a smile at the image of the usually stoic
ACCALIA'S POV"So, Don, any plans for our last night in the village?" I said, making sure that voice interrupted his thoughts, I kept my tone light and teasing, Don looked around him and realized realized that Kito was no longer by his side.He then shrugged nonchalantly, trying to maintain his composure. "Not really. Just thought we'd enjoy the evening and maybe have a quiet dinner."I raised an eyebrow with a mischievous glint in in eyes. "Quiet dinner, huh? You do realize this is our last chance to let loose before heading back to the city, right?"I noticed that he fought the urge to roll his eyes at my suggestion. "I'm not really in the mood for festivities," He replied stiffly, hoping I wouldn't push the matter further.But of course, I wasn't one to back down so easily. "Oh, come on, Don! You can't tell me you're not going to miss this place just a little bit," I said, nudging him playfully.He sighed inwardly, knowing I was right. Despite his best efforts to remain detached, t
ACCALIA'S POV"You're staring again, Don," My voice broke through his thoughts, accompanied by a teasing smile that made his heart skip a beat.Don quickly averted his gaze, cursing himself for letting my guard down. "Just making sure you're not getting into trouble," He replied, mustering up the usual gruffness in his tone.But as I laughed and leaned in closer, mu shoulder brushing against his, I couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth spread through me. It was ridiculous, really. Here He was, pretending to be indifferent towards me, when all He wanted to do was pull me into his arms and never let go."Come on, Don," I said ensuring that my voice was softening. "It's our last night here. Let's make the most of it."Don hesitated for a moment, torn between his desire to keep up appearances and him longing to spend every remaining moment with me. But in the end, the choice was clear."Alright," Don said, forcing a nonchalant shrug. "But don't expect me to dance or anything."I grinne
ACCALIA'S POV"Ah, young love," he said, his voice filled with nostalgia. "Reminds me of the time when I first laid eyes on my beloved Eliza."Don and I exchanged amused glances, curious to hear the chief Orel's tale. "Do tell us, Chief," I said, motioning for him to join us by the fire.Settling down beside us, Orel began his story, his voice tinged with warmth and humor. "Eliza was the most beautiful woman in the village," he began, a dreamy look crossing his weathered features. "And I, well, I was just a simple farmer with dreams of one day winning her heart.""It all started many moons ago," Elder Orel continued, his gaze drifting off into the distance. "Back when I was just a young lad with dreams as big as the mountains themselves."He paused for dramatic effect, drawing us all in with bated breath."I was smitten by a lass by the name of Eliza," he confessed, a wistful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "She was the most beautiful girl in the village, with hair as golden
ACCALIA'S POVAs the first light of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, my heart swelled with a mix of anticipation and sadness. Today marked the beginning of a new chapter, but it also meant saying goodbye to the only home I had ever known.Stepping outside, I was met with a scene straight out of a dream. The entire village had gathered to bid us farewell, their faces illuminated by flickering torchlight and the warm glow of dawn. Tears welled up in my eyes as I took in the sight, feeling overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support.Chief Orel stood at the forefront, his weathered face etched with a mixture of pride and sorrow. "Accalia, Don," he said, his voice thick with emotion, "may your journey be blessed with courage and wisdom. Know that you will always have a home here in Arinthia."I hugged Chief Orel tightly, my heart heavy with gratitude for all that he had done for us. "Thank you, Chief," I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper. "For everything."Don
ACCALIA'S POVAs we reached the edge of the village, I turned to look back one last time, committing the sight of Arinthia to memory. "Goodbye, Arinthia," I whispered, my voice barely audible above the gentle rustle of the wind. "Thank you for everything."A familiar rumble filled the air, drawing our attention towards the dusty road leading into Arinthia. Through the morning mist emerged Kito, his rugged pickup truck bouncing along the uneven terrain.Kito emerged from the driver's seat, his usually jovial expression tinged with sadness. "Hey there, folks," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "I heard you were leaving, so I thought I'd come by and offer you a ride to the bus stop."My heart swelled with gratitude at his kindness. "Thank you, Kito," I said, my voice choked with emotion. "That means a lot to us."Don nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting the same gratitude. "Yeah, thanks, Kito," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "We really appreciate it."Kito waved off o
ACCALIA'S POVWe climbed into the of the truck, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the thought of leaving behind another dear friend. Kito had always been there for us, offering his help and support whenever we needed it, and the thought of saying goodbye to him was almost too much to bear.As we settled into the worn leather seats of Kito's truck, a heavy silence hung in the air, punctuated only by the soft hum of the engine. I glanced out the window, watching as the familiar sights of Arinthia faded into the distance, my heart aching with the weight of farewell.The ride to the bus stop was a somber one, the only sound the steady hum of the engine and the occasional sniffle from one of us. Kito tried to lighten the mood with some of his trademark jokes, but even he seemed to be struggling to find his usual cheerfulness.As we neared the bus stop, Kito pulled over and turned off the engine, the silence that followed almost deafening in its intensity. "Well, this is it," he