Chapter 31: Five years and A Child Later.

“Do you have to go?”

Ezra paused and turned around.

After breakfast, he had gotten himself ready, trading comfort for familiarity.

He was dressed in his usual training clothes, light and practical, since Fizzy had assured him armor wouldn’t be necessary yet.

Not that Ezra still had it anyways.

Lior stood near the bed, hands clenched at his sides.

He wasn’t crying. He wasn’t screaming.

And honestly, that almost made it worse.

“I’ll be quick, Lior,” Ezra said gently.

Much to both of their frustration, they couldn’t hug. Ezra couldn’t pull him close or murmur reassurances the way he wanted to, not with Fizzy standing right there.

Lior kept his head down, staring at the floor. It was obvious he was holding it in, forcing himself not to cry.

Ezra’s chest ached.

’He’s trying so hard,’ Ezra thought. ’Too hard for someone his age.’

He lowered himself onto one knee in front of Lior. “Be a brave boy, alright? I trust you and Fizzy to take care of our new home.”

Lior didn’t look up.

“I promise,” Ezra added softly, “I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

Fizzy jumped in, clearly sensing the tension. “And I’ll have candies delivered here, Lior! We can play some of the games kids in this kingdom love. I assure you, you won’t even miss the captain while he’s gone!”

“That’s not true,” Lior mumbled.

Fizzy blinked, surprised.

“I will always miss my ma—master,” Lior said quietly.

Ezra felt something inside him crack.

He reached out and rested a hand gently on top of Lior’s head, fingers brushing through his hair. “You know,” he said carefully, “Fizzy is really good at games.”

“Hm?” Fizzy tilted his head. “Am I?”

Ezra shot him a look that clearly said Just go with it.

Fizzy caught on instantly. “Oh! Yes, absolutely. I’m amazing. A true master of games.”

“So?” Lior asked, peeking up just a little.

Ezra smiled. “He used to beat me all the time. I’d get really sad. Very sad. If only someone as smart as you could beat him while I’m gone.”

That did it.

Lior slowly lifted his head.

“I’m smart…” he said, uncertain but hopeful.

“Yes,” Ezra replied warmly, giving his hair a gentle pat. “You are. So can you beat Fizzy while I’m gone? So I can have something to look forward to?”

Lior looked up at Ezra, then turned to look at Fizzy.

“That’s easy.”

Fizzy clutched his chest dramatically. “How dare you. You won’t beat me that easily, kid.”

For the first time since Ezra had started getting ready, Lior smiled.

Ezra felt a wave of relief wash over him at the sight of Lior smiling.

It was small.

Just a brief, stubborn smile. But it loosened something tight in his chest.

’This is good,’ Ezra thought. ’I think I can leave now.’

He straightened and turned to Fizzy. “I’ll leave him with you,” he said quietly. “Thank you. For… everything.”

Fizzy gave him a confident nod. “Don’t worry, Captain. I’ve got him. I’ll make sure he’s occupied.” His grin softened, eyes flicking briefly toward Lior.

“And good luck today. Oh, and don’t forget what I told you. About the… guy.”

Ezra paused for half a second.

He nodded once. “I won’t.”

After all, the information mattered. If today was going to go smoothly, he couldn’t afford to be careless.

Ezra took one last look at Lior. The boy was already squaring his shoulders, staring Fizzy down like this was the beginning of a very serious competition.

That sight alone almost broke Ezra’s resolve.

Then the door closed softly behind him.

“Bye, bye,” Lior’s small voice called out.

Ezra stopped in the hallway, his hand lingering against the wood for just a moment longer than necessary.

He drew in a deep breath.

’I can do this.’

His hands curled into fists at his sides, grounding himself.

Five years.

It had been five years since he last stood like this. Alone. Truly alone. Without Lior’s weight in his arms.

Without constantly measuring every step by how far he could go before his child needed him again.

Sure, he had stepped away from Lior before. Short errands. Brief duties.

An hour at most, once Lior had grown old enough to manage without clinging to him.

But this was different.

This wasn’t Ezra slipping out quietly and returning just as quietly.

This was Ezra returning as a knight.

’As Captain,’ he corrected himself.

Since Lior was born, he had never truly believed this version of himself could exist again. Not fully.

Not without something terrible happening. The risks had always outweighed the pride. The stakes had always been too high.

And yet here he was.

Standing in palace halls once more, spine straight, steps steady.

Captain of the Sunward Sentinels.

Well, at least that’s what Helios said.

Ezra let out a slow breath and stepped forward, exiting their quarters and into the open corridor beyond.

The air outside felt different. Wider. Less safe somehow.

’Did Fizzy ever tell me where Helios was going to meet with me?’ he thought briefly. ’Nope.’

Ezra was just about to assume it would be somewhere official when he stopped short.

Someone was already there.

A tall figure stood just outside, turned slightly away as if deliberately giving Ezra space. Light caught on silver hair, soft but unmistakable.

Ezra froze.

His heart skipped, sharp and traitorous, and he immediately scolded himself for it.

’Come on, Ezra,’ he thought harshly. ’Get a grip. What in Aurethys are you feeling right now?’

Still, his chest tightened anyway. As if his body remembered something his mind refused to acknowledge.

Before he could stop himself, the name slipped out, rough and quiet.

“Helios.”

The prince turned.

And just like that, the corridor felt smaller.

Helios’s face broke into that familiar smile, bright and warm in a way that always felt unfair.

The kind of smile that had once made long days easier and dangerous missions feel survivable.

“Ezra!” Helios called, eyes lighting up as he took a step closer. “I knew it. Even after all these years, you still leave your room early.”

Ezra swallowed.

’Ah. That’s unfair,’ he thought. ’Really unfair.’

He wasn’t even sure what part of it was unfair. The smile. The ease.

The way Helios said his name like it hadn’t been years, like nothing had ever changed.

His heart and his mind both seemed to agree on one thing. Helios was unfair.

Ezra straightened his shoulders automatically, slipping back into something familiar and guarded. “Your Highness,” he said, voice steady despite the sudden rush of things he very much did not want to feel.

Helios laughed softly. “You don’t have to be so stiff. Not with me.” His gaze flicked briefly toward the door Ezra had just exited. “Or else I’ll start getting offended. We were fine yesterday.”

Ezra nodded, an awkward smile tugging at his lips. “I’m sorry. I know.” He exhaled. “It’s just… hard to get used to.”

Helios’s expression softened. “I’m just glad you’re back,” he said quietly. “It felt like something was missing when you weren’t here.”

Ezra met his eyes.

For a heartbeat, he forgot how to breathe.

’He’s doing it again,’ Ezra thought, frustration and something dangerously close to fondness tangling in his chest.

This had always been Helios’s curse. Saying things that sounded too sincere, too personal, without even realizing the weight they carried.

Anyone else might have taken it as polite sentiment. Ezra never could.

Five years. Five years and a child later, and he still felt like a foolish youth whenever Helios looked at him like that. Like Ezra was something precious, something irreplaceable.

’This is ridiculous,’ he told himself. ’I should be past this by now.’

And yet, his heart refused to listen.

Ezra had noticed it yesterday too. The way Helios lingered.

The way his gaze softened when it landed on him. He had been too busy keeping Lior calm, too focused on survival, to think about it properly.

Now, standing here alone, there was no distraction.

’Doesn’t this mean…’

He cut the thought off before it could finish.

Helios shifted slightly, as if choosing his words carefully.

“Before we go,” he said, “let’s stop by somewhere else first. I’d like to talk with you for a few minutes.” He smiled, gentler now. “In private.”

Ezra’s eyes widened just a fraction before he could stop himself.

His heart betrayed him again, skipping hard enough that he felt it in his throat.

’…that my feelings are still…’

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