After the laughter and welcomes had settled, the house gradually returned to its usual rhythm.
Liora moved through the kitchen with practiced ease, her hands wiping down counters and sorting through leftover supplies from their journey. The soft scrape of broom bristles against the floor echoed faintly beneath the murmurs of a lesson being taught just beyond the main room.
At the low table, Mia sat cross-legged beside Aria, her voice patient and steady as they worked through a small reading exercise.
"Now, try that one again," Mia encouraged, tapping the paper gently.
"'The fox ran into the tall grass…'" Aria read, her brow furrowed as she concentrated on each word.
Mia smiled. "Perfect. You only hesitated once. That's real progress."
Outside, faint sounds of practice echoed through the open windows, Tessa's movements as she trained in the small clearing behind the house. The whish of her wooden sword slicing the air, punctuated by the occasional grunt of effort, lent a comforting background pulse to the otherwise peaceful afternoon.
Liora peeked through the window at her, smiling softly. She's growing stronger with each day. Steadier. More confident.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, golden light poured into the room, casting long shadows across the walls. Aria let out a tired yawn, laying her head on the table with a dramatic sigh.
"My brain is full," she mumbled.
Mia chuckled, gently gathering the lesson pages into a neat stack. "That's enough for today. You did great."
Aria beamed at the praise, rubbing her eyes. "Can we read the owl story tomorrow?"
"Of course," Mia nodded. "Same time?"
Aria nodded back, and with that, Mia stood, brushing the front of her skirt. She looked toward the kitchen, where Liora had just finished putting away the last of the dishes.
"Thank you for dinner earlier," Mia said with a polite bow. "And for… well, everything."
Liora dried her hands and approached. "You're always welcome here, Mia. You've done more than enough."
Mia gave a soft smile, shouldering her satchel. "I'll be back tomorrow after breakfast. Let Aria know I'll bring a new storybook."
Tessa stepped back in through the back door, a light sweat on her brow, catching Mia just before she left. "You're heading out?"
"Mmhm," Mia nodded. "I live just across the square. Don't worry, I won't be far."
Aria darted up and gave her a quick hug before she could go. "Goodnight, Mia!"
"Goodnight, little scholar," Mia replied, gently ruffling Aria's hair.
With a final wave, Mia stepped into the fading light, her figure soon swallowed by the warm hues of dusk as she made her way home.
Inside, Liora, Tessa, and Aria sat together near the hearth, watching the flames flicker to life as evening settled in fully. No urgent quests, no looming threats, just a quiet night, well-earned.