Kyrie knelt beside her bag, sorting through her things with slow, unfocused movements. She picked items up, held them for a moment, then set them aside again; trying to decide what to keep, what to leave.

The problem was… she didn’t want to leave anything. Every object felt heavier now. More important. A piece of her world. And if Nikolaus was right… if they really couldn’t go back… She swallowed hard and forced herself to keep going.

Practical. She needed to be practical. Clothes. Essentials. Anything that might actually help her survive out there. Still, every time she set something aside, her chest tightened. What if she never saw anything like it again?

Her gaze drifted to the window. Just for a second. Checking. Hoping for the first hint of dawn. But also half-afraid of what she might see looking back. Nothing. Just moonlight and shadows.

She exhaled quietly and returned to her bag, fingers fidgeting with a folded shirt as her thoughts spiraled.

A knock broke the silence. Steady. Measured.

Kyrie startled slightly, her heart jumping into her throat. She froze for a second before realizing: someone at the door.

She wiped quickly at her face, only then realizing she’d been crying. Her cheeks were damp, her eyes stinging. Another breath. Steady. She stood and crossed the room, opening the door.

Captain Nikolaus stood there, a length of dark blue cloth draped over one arm. “I brought you something,” he began. Then he paused. His expression shifted immediately as he took in her face. Concern softened his features. “May I come in?”

Kyrie hesitated for only a moment, then nodded, stepping aside. “Yeah… sorry,” she murmured, trying to steady her voice.

Nikolaus inclined his head slightly in thanks and stepped inside. His eyes moved briefly around the room, taking in the space before returning to her. He offered a gentle, reassuring smile.

Then he unfolded the cloth in his arms. It fell open into a cloak. Deep blue, soft-looking, with a hood and a subtle sheen that caught the candlelight.

Kyrie tilted her head slightly, studying it, then looked back at him. “A cloak?”

Nikolaus chuckled softly as he stepped closer. “Yes, a cloak,” he said. “A Harmony Cloak, to be precise.” He lifted it carefully and draped it over her shoulders.

“It’s an elven enchantment,” he explained as he adjusted the fabric, his hands practiced and precise. “It helps… persuade nature to be kinder to you. It will keep you warm, even in light snow, and dry so long as the rain isn’t too heavy.”

Kyrie blinked, her curiosity cutting through the haze of her emotions. “Wait, really?” she said, a faint spark of interest returning. She let him fasten the pin at her collar, her fingers instinctively brushing over the material.

“Oh… it’s really soft,” she added, almost surprised. Up close, she caught that scent again; subtle, warm. Herbal. Something comforting, though she couldn’t quite place it.

Nikolaus smiled, nodding slightly. “Elven silk,” he said. “From Maru. A place quite far from here.”

His gaze drifted briefly toward the table near the window. The parchment tag. Her name. And Mark’s. He gestured toward it lightly. “There was someone else here?”

Kyrie followed his gaze. For a moment, she just stared at it. Then she nodded. “Yeah…” she said quietly. “My boyfriend was supposed to come with me.” Her lips pressed together as she tried, and failed, to find humor in it. “It was actually his idea,” she added. “But he got stuck working… so he missed out on all this.” Her voice faltered slightly at the end.

Nikolaus watched her carefully. Then, gently, he reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a light, steady squeeze. “I am sorry for the loss you feel,” he said softly.

The words weren’t dramatic. But they landed. “If you wish to speak… you may come to me.” He let his hand fall away, then glanced toward the door. “I should check on the others,” he added. “Come down when you are ready.”

Kyrie looked up at him and nodded. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “For everything.” And she meant it. Something about the exchange, simple as it was, helped steady her. Just a little.

Nikolaus gave her one last nod before stepping out and closing the door behind him.

Kyrie stood there for a moment, fingers lightly gripping the edge of the cloak. The fabric was soft beneath her touch, grounding in a way she hadn’t expected. Then she exhaled. And turned back to her bag. There was still packing to do. And a very long journey ahead.