As the sun set over the village, Solis, Ada, and Vaidya settled into their separate rooms at Maglina's inn. The building was surprisingly large for a village of this size, built not just as a resting place for travelers but also as an emergency shelter in times of crisis. Six months ago, when the dragon attacked, many villagers had taken refuge here. The walls still bore faint scorch marks, a haunting reminder of the devastation they had endured.
Ada's Room
Inside her room, Ada sat by the wooden desk, her candle flickering as she scribbled in her diary. Her handwriting, usually sharp and deliberate, carried a certain excitement tonight.
"Today, I am truly happy. Our trio is finally complete again. After all these months, after everything we lost, Solis is back with us."
She paused, tapping the quill against her chin. The memories of the past months weighed heavy on her. She continued writing.
"Tedric's death still haunts me. I can't forgive myself for not being strong enough to save him. He sacrificed himself to save me, and I should have been the one to take that blow. But the hardest part was losing Solis after that. He took Tedric's death so personally. I know he felt guilty, but he wasn't even there. It wasn't his fault… and yet, he still left us. It hurt more than I ever thought possible."
She clenched her fist, then exhaled, letting the tension ease out of her shoulders.
"But he's here now. And I'm not going to let anything break our trio again."
She closed her diary and leaned back in her chair. A small, genuine smile graced her lips. Today had been a good day.
---
Vaidya's Room
Across the hall, Vaidya was hunched over a book, his sharp eyes scanning the intricate symbols of advanced wind magic. His room was filled with stacks of books, some opened, some bookmarked with scraps of paper. He turned a page, whispering under his breath as he read:
"The Gale Surge spell requires a proper balance between mana control and elemental synchronization. Improper execution can result in unstable turbulence."
Vaidya sighed and rubbed his temple. His progress had been remarkable these past months, but magic was an endless pursuit.
His mind drifted back to the day's events. Seeing Solis again had felt almost surreal.
"Six months apart, and he hasn't changed. He's still the same Solis—determined, a little reckless, but undeniably strong. But I wonder if he realizes how much Ada and I have changed. She's even faster now, dual-wielding swords like it's second nature. And me? I finally awakened my ice magic. I wish Solis had seen me when I first struggled with it… but he's here now. That's what matters."
Vaidya closed the book and lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Tomorrow, we'll train together again. Just like old times."
---
Solis's Room
Lying on his bed, Solis stared up at the wooden ceiling, his mind replaying the day's adventure. He had missed this. The thrill of missions, the camaraderie of his friends. He had thought six months wouldn't change much, but he had been wrong.
"Ada can now wield two swords at once, her speed is unbelievable. She knocked down that Fire Salamander before I even had the chance to react. And Vaidya… he's using ice magic now. Ice magic. He always had an analytical mind, but to develop a whole new element? That's incredible."
He turned onto his side, gripping his blanket tightly.
"I need to get stronger too. I can't just rely on my instincts anymore. Ada and Vaidya have grown, and if I don't keep up, I'll be the one holding them back."
Despite his worries, a warm feeling settled in his chest.
"They never resented me for leaving. They just wanted me back. And I'm here now."
With that thought, Solis closed his eyes and let sleep take him.
---
The Next Morning
A knock at the door woke Solis from his slumber. He sat up groggily, rubbing his eyes before stretching his limbs. It's Maglina. She asked, "Sorry to di... diturb but y..... you can get yourself breakfast in 30 minutes. Have a n... nice morning."
The room was bathed in the soft golden light of morning. He got up, freshened himself quickly, and headed to Vaidya's room.
He knocked. "Hey, Vaidya, open the door."
After a few moments, the door creaked open, revealing Vaidya, his face pale and tense.
Solis frowned. "Hey, what happened? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Vaidya swallowed hard. "My satchel is stolen."
Solis blinked. "Wait! What?!"
Vaidya ran a hand through his messy hair. "Yeah… my satchel is gone. I had everything in there—Postknight Scrolls, health potions, an energy boost potion… even some gold coins."
Solis's stomach twisted. Losing the Postknight Scrolls alone was a disaster. Those scrolls weren't just for storing and retrieving items; they were vital for their missions.
"Okay," Solis took a deep breath, "when did you last see it?"
Vaidya exhaled sharply. "Last night. I set it down by my bed before I went to sleep."
Solis scanned the room. "No signs of forced entry. That means someone must have sneaked in."
Vaidya nodded. "Exactly. And we were in an inn… which means it could have been someone staying here, or worse, someone who had access to all the rooms."
Solis crossed his arms. "Then we need to start searching now. If we act fast, we might catch the thief before they get too far."
Vaidya clenched his fists. "I won't let them get away with it."
Solis gave a firm nod. "Then let's find your satchel."
And with that, they stepped into the hallway, ready to begin their search.