23

FELICIA POV

The night arrived, and Kalixo and I returned to the island. We continued to fish as he had promised. Kalixo gathered wood from the forest, while I picked fruits and placed them in a basket. I took a piece of cloth to lay on the ground, where we sat and gazed at the beautiful night sky, full of stars and the shimmering moon.

I wondered why there were no guards tonight. "Where are your men?" I asked, settling onto the cloth.

Kalixo, now tending to the wood he had gathered, arranged them as if we were setting up camp. "I sent them away because they have important tasks. I had some orders for them."

I nodded. As the wood caught fire, Kalixo skewered the five fish he had caught and placed them by the flames. Then he sat beside me, took fruits from the basket, handed me an apple, and took one for himself.

I smiled. "It's amazing and kind of surprising. Seeing you being like this," I took a bite of my apple. "And somehow, having a camping trip with apples. Don't you have mars