They reached a small clearing in the forest where Satou had spent the afternoon preparing. A blanket was spread on the grass with cushions for comfort. Nearby, a small fire pit had been set up with wood ready to light. And most impressively, there was food—actual good food that Satou had convinced the settlement's cook to prepare.
"You did all this?" Lyra asked, her eyes wide.
"I had help," Satou admitted. "The cook prepared the food, Urgak helped me carry the cushions, and Kelvin kept guard to make sure no one disturbed the setup. But the planning was all me. I wanted somewhere quiet where we could talk without interruptions."
"It's wonderful," Lyra said softly. "Satou, this is... this is really wonderful."
They settled onto the blanket, and for the first time in days, Lyra seemed to truly relax. They ate roasted meat, fresh bread and talked about everything except settlement business.
