[Scene: Whisper's Light Ship – Captain's Quarters]
The Whisper's Light vessel lay docked near the castle walls.
Inside one of the cabin rooms — dim, calm, still — two beds sat parallel, shadows pooling around the edges.
Ashen lay awake, hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling like it owed him answers.
Beside him, Master Madhav shifted once, then stilled.
No one spoke for a long time.
Then—
Madhav (softly, into the dark):
"Hope they're feeding my children. It's been a while since they entered the castle."
A pause.
Ashen didn't look over.
Ashen (internal, dry):
Sure they're not missing much… if it means skipping your cooking, old man.
Out loud, his tone was level.
Ashen:
"You sure they are safe?
That talk you had with the official before dinner… felt off."
Madhav (grunting faintly):
"Hm? Oh — that guy?"
He exhaled, folding his arms behind his head.
Madhav:
"Didn't say much. Just mentioned the trials are still ongoing."
"He said more info'll go public once everything's finalized."
Ashen turned slightly, now watching the profile of his guild master in the low light.
Ashen:
"I mean… you must've taken the exam yourself, right? So you should have at least an idea what's going on."
A beat.
Madhav chuckled — not loudly. Just enough to shake the silence.
Madhav:
"Who told you that?"
Ashen:
"No one. Just assumed."
Madhav's smile lingered, but didn't grow.
He stared up, his expression unreadable.
Madhav (quietly):
"I never took those exams."
Ashen (blinking):
"…What?"
Madhav:
"They didn't exist when I started. And when they did…"
His tone dipped.
Madhav (flat):
"I figured it was best I keep my name off the government's radar."
Ashen watched him carefully now.
Madhav:
"I wasn't interested in chasing their approvals then… and I'm definitely not now."
Ashen didn't respond immediately.
Because the silence between them was louder than anything.
Not cold.
Not tense.
Just real.
Two men in the dark, one old and careful… the other young and listening.
Madhav (after a pause):
"Rest up, Ashen."
"They'll finish their trials soon."
"And when they do…
We'll see what the Council really wants."
Ashen's eyes narrowed slightly.
Ashen (internal):
If you're hiding from the government …
What exactly did you do before Whisper's Light, old man?
He didn't ask.
Not tonight.
He just closed his eyes.
Though sleep didn't come for either of them.
[Scene: Garden Sparks – Whisper's Circle Gathers]
As the fake sun hung still in the illusion of daylight, time inside the Garden of Passage felt warped.
Kael, Katrina, and Solis had barely finished piecing together the truth about their surroundings… when footsteps approached.
Arjun — breath calm but eyes lit with adrenaline.
Rhask — the quiet brawler, arms crossed, scarred jaw twitching like he was still sizing up the next obstacle.
And then Eron — grinning, wind-tossed hair and a half-eaten apple in one hand like he'd walked out of a picnic instead of a multi-layered death trial.
They all converged.
No words at first — just nods, short smiles, a shared weight lifted.
Then Kael started clapping. Loud. Too loud.
Kael:
"Look at us — we all made it."
The others laughed.
Katrina rolled her eyes, but didn't walk away.
Arjun (smirking):
"Told you we'd meet again. Didn't think it would be in a garden though."
Rhask (gruffly):
"We earned this."
They formed a rough circle beneath the willow — a loose huddle of bruised bodies, tired minds, and burning pride.
Solis (quietly):
"This group... it was always going to make it."
Katrina (internal):
Six of us. Standing. Breathing.
And still — not a single word about what comes next.
The circle didn't break for a while.
Because for once, there were no enemies.
Just Whisper's Light… together.