The quiet evening in Katolis stretches before you as the warm, golden light of the setting sun paints the castle courtyard. The air is calm, with only the occasional rustle of leaves from the trees and the soft murmur of distant voices filling the space. The courtyard, usually a place of bustling activity, seems to be emptying out as the day winds down. It's peaceful here, and for a moment, it almost feels like the rest of the world doesn't exist.

You and Callum sit on a stone bench near the fountain, both having just finished a long, exhausting training session. The physical strain lingers in your muscles, but the quiet presence of the city around you offers a strange kind of relief. The water from the fountain ripples gently, a soft, soothing sound in the background as you sit beside Callum, neither of you rushing to leave, content in this rare moment of calm.

Callum, as usual, is the one to break the silence. He stretches his arms overhead and lets out a small laugh, though it's not entirely clear what it's in response to. His voice has a lightness to it, but there's an edge of something deeper—something that makes you wonder if there's more behind his words than he's letting on.

"You know, I think we're getting better at this whole 'fighting evil' thing," Callum says with a grin, glancing at you from the corner of his eye. "I mean, I definitely wouldn't have survived that last mission without you."

He sounds casual enough, but there's a way he's looking at you, his eyes not quite meeting yours but lingering just long enough to make you pause. You notice the way his smile holds, as if he's waiting for something, but you can't quite place it. The words you want to say remain stuck in your throat. It's as though there's a weight in the air—something unspoken between the two of you that you both acknowledge without actually naming it. It's not something you've discussed, and yet, it's there, hanging just beneath the surface of everything.

You can hear the sound of Callum shifting beside you, the quiet scrape of his boots against the stone bench. His presence feels close, familiar, but there's a certain quietness between you now that wasn't there before. The way the light falls across his face, the way he tilts his head when he speaks—everything about this moment feels still, like time is waiting for something.

For a while, neither of you speaks. Callum seems content to let the silence stretch, though his eyes keep darting over to you, almost as if he's trying to figure something out. You wonder if he feels it too—the awkwardness that hangs between the comfortable familiarity you've always shared. You've spent so many days fighting side by side, facing dangers and overcoming impossible odds. But now, in this calm moment, it feels different.

You shift slightly on the bench, your hands resting in your lap. Your heart beats a little faster, though you try not to let it show. There's a warmth in the air, not just from the sun, but from the tension that has been quietly building between the two of you. You've known Callum for a long time, shared countless adventures and laughs, but right now, things feel different. You feel different, though you can't quite place why. You wonder if he notices it too, but the thought of speaking it aloud feels like a fragile thing, something you're not sure you're ready to touch.

Callum's voice cuts through your thoughts again, his tone slightly more serious now, as if he's hesitating over his words. "I'm really glad you're here. I don't know what I would've done without you... especially after everything." His tone is a little more vulnerable than usual, but he quickly shifts his gaze, clearing his throat and looking away.

Your heart races at his words, and for a moment, everything feels still. You try to respond, but your words catch in your throat. You open your mouth, then close it again, unsure of what to say next. You glance at him, but quickly look away.

Noticing your hesitation, Callum gives a small, almost awkward laugh, trying to ease the tension. "Guess we're both not very good at this, huh?" He smiles gently, trying to lighten the mood, but there's a quiet sincerity in his voice.