Noel’s expression eased the mont he saw them all properly, standing there in the cabin as if they’d always belonged there. His gaze moved from Elena to Elyra, then lingered—unavoidably—on Charlotte.
She looked exhausted.
Her pink hair was tied back into a simple ponytail, loose strands escaping around her face, and the usual brightness she carried was dulled by fatigue. But when her golden eyes t his, sothing in them softened instantly, relief washing through them so clearly it almost hurt to see.
Noel smiled, small and tired, but genuine.
"Hey," he said, voice light despite everything. "I hope you didn’t push yourself too hard." His eyes stayed on Charlotte as he added, "I heard the others had to stop you a few tis."
Elyra answered before Charlotte could, arms crossing loosely as she leaned against the wall. "Yeah. At this rate, it really sounds like you don’t plan on sticking around with us for very long," she said, half teasing, half serious. "You know Elena can help too, right? You don’t have to do everything yourself."
Charlotte flinched slightly at that, then shook her head. "I’m sorry for worrying you," she said, hands clasping together in front of her. "But it’s my role. I can’t just ignore it."
She looked at Noel again, her voice softening. "That said... I don’t want to burn out. I don’t want to disappear young. I want to stay with you—and with all of you—for a long ti." Her gaze dropped briefly before lifting again. "After we defeat the two Pillars, after we stop whatever this is... I hope we can live quietly. I don’t want to rely on Blessings forever."
Elena nodded slowly, ears flicking as she listened, then turned to Noel. "And you?" she asked simply. "How do you feel?"
Noel reached down, fingers brushing through Noir’s fur as she rested close to him. "Honestly?" he said. "Like new."
That earned a few surprised looks.
"I’m ready to go after Marcus," Noel continued, calm but resolute. "You’ve already handled everything here. The island’s stable. The people are safe. I won’t pretend I don’t want to move."
His gaze moved between them, gratitude clear. "You did more than enough while I was out."
Noel let the mont settle, then glanced around the room again, as if ntally counting who wasn’t there.
"...What about the others?" he asked. His tone was casual, but the question wasn’t. "Clara. Garron. Laziel."
Selene answered first, steady as ever. "Clara’s fine. She’s staying on the ship, completely out of the action now. Resting, eating properly." Her eyes flicked briefly to Elena, then back to Noel. "She’s taking care of herself. And the baby."
Noel’s shoulders eased almost imdiately. "Good," he said. "That’s exactly where she should be."
Elyra picked up from there. "Garron’s been everywhere," she said with a faint smile. "Helping with logistics, moving supplies, coordinating with the people on the island. He’s... surprisingly good at it, actually. The locals trust him."
"That doesn’t surprise ," Noel replied. "He’s like that."
"And Laziel," Elena added, folding her hands together, "has been working with the crew and the island leaders. Routes, schedules, who needs to be moved where. He hasn’t stopped since you went down."
Noel nodded slowly, absorbing it all.
"So everything kept moving," he said quietly.
"Yes," Selene replied. "It did."
She hesitated for just a mont before adding, "But no one made the next call. Not the big one. We were waiting."
Noel looked up at her.
"For you," Elyra said simply. "We can handle things. All of us can. But this?" She gestured vaguely, aning everything ahead of them. "That’s still yours to lead."
Silence settled over the cabin again.
Noel leaned back slightly, fingers idly scratching behind Noir’s ears. Relief ca first—warm, grounding. Then sothing sharper underneath it.
Guilt.
"...I hate that I was out," he admitted after a mont. "Even knowing you had it covered."
Elena cleared her throat softly, breaking the silence before it could settle too deeply. "Before you go anywhere," she said, already shifting toward the small counter built into the cabin, "you’re eating."
Noel blinked. "I’m fine," he started.
She didn’t even look back at him. "Your body might be saying that," Elena replied calmly, reaching for a pot, "but I’m not trusting it after you slept for days."
Elyra smirked. "She’s got a point."
Noel sighed, the fight leaving him almost imdiately. "Alright. Alright. I get it."
"Good," Elena said, satisfied. "It won’t take long. Just sothing warm and simple." She glanced over her shoulder. "Sit. Don’t move."
As Elena started working, Elyra stepped closer to Noel and tilted her head, studying him. "You also sll like soone who’s been unconscious for way too long," she said bluntly.
He snorted. "Wow. Thank you."
"I’m serious," she continued, already grabbing a clean set of clothes from the side. "Go get cleaned up. I’ll wait."
She nudged the clothes into his hands and pointed toward the small washroom. "Slow. No heroics."
Noel hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah... okay."
As the door closed behind him, steam began to rise, and after a mont, his voice carried through the wood. "You’re really not letting get away with anything today, are you?"
Elyra leaned back against the wall outside, arms folded. "Nope. Especially not after what just happened."
There was a pause, then the sound of water. "Marcus is still out there," Noel said quietly. "Part of wants to move right now."
"I know," Elyra replied. "But if you break yourself again, you’re not helping him. Or anyone."
Another pause. "I don’t like relying on people."
"I know that too," she said, softer now. "But you don’t have to do everything alone."
From inside, Noel exhaled slowly. "I’ll try."
"That’s all I’m asking."
Back in the main cabin, Charlotte and Selene moved in quiet coordination. Charlotte carefully stripped the bedding, folding it with practiced motions, while Selene opened the small windows to let fresh air in. The room slowly shifted—stale air replaced, sheets changed, the space feeling lived-in again.
Noel stepped back into the cabin a short while later, hair still slightly damp, clean clothes sitting more comfortably on him than he expected. He looked... better. Not just physically—lighter, like so of the weight had finally been set down.
Elena had already set a bowl on the small table, steam rising lazily from it. "Sit," she said again, softer this ti.
Noel obeyed without protest, picking up the spoon and taking his first bite. His shoulders relaxed almost imdiately. "...Okay," he admitted. "That’s really good."
Elena’s ears flicked, a faint hint of satisfaction crossing her face. "You needed it."
As he ate, Noel’s gaze drifted around the room.
Charlotte and Selene had finished cleaning, the bed freshly made, the windows cracked open just enough to let in clean air. Selene had returned to his side, standing close enough that he could feel her presence without her saying a word. Elyra leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching him with a knowing look.
One cooked for him.
Two cleaned his room.
One never really left his side.
Noel shook his head slightly, a tired smile tugging at his lips. "You know," he said, glancing between them, "if this is what my life is going to look like from now on... I really can’t complain."
Elyra snorted. "Careful. If you say things like that, we’re going to start expecting sothing in return."
Elena flushed imdiately. "E–Elyra," she said, flustered, then looked back at Noel with a shy smile. "I an... it’s not like we’re asking for anything unreasonable. R–Right?"
Charlotte t Noel’s eyes, her expression steady despite the faint color rising to her cheeks. "Just don’t disappear on us," she said simply. "That’s enough."
Selene crossed her arms, gaze sharp. "And don’t get any strange ideas," she added flatly. "You’re not allowed to trade your life for comfort."
Noel laughed quietly, the sound genuine. "Yeah," he said. "I figured."
The laughter faded naturally, leaving behind a quiet that didn’t feel heavy.
Noel finished the last few bites slowly, setting the bowl aside before leaning back just enough to look at them properly. Not as a group moving around him—but as four people who had carried things while he couldn’t.
"...Hey," he said after a mont.
They all looked at him.
"Seriously," Noel continued, voice lower now, steadier. "Thank you. For everything you did while I was out. For not stopping. And for not... doing sothing stupid just because I wasn’t there."
Elyra tilted her head. "You say that like it wasn’t obvious."
"It wasn’t," Noel replied honestly. "Not to ."
Charlotte smiled softly. Elena’s ears flicked, and Selene didn’t look away.
"I hate missing things," Noel went on. "I hate being the one who needs to catch up. But knowing you had it handled?" He exhaled. "That matters more than I thought."
The room stayed still, the ship rocking gently beneath them.
"We’ll go after Marcus," Noel said. There was no rush in his tone.
Selene stepped closer without comnt. Elyra shifted from the wall, taking a seat nearby. Elena moved to the table, close enough that her shoulder brushed his. Charlotte hesitated for half a second before joining them, settling in with a small, careful movent.
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