Through The Ashes

40

The next morning dawned bright and clear, the air cool but not yet touched by the usual oppressive humidity that came with midday. Jorn and Mara sat at the edge of camp, away from the others who were already up and moving. They had slept the night away in Mara's tent, wrapped in a tight embrace.

They were in the middle of a light-hearted conversation, Jorn indulging in Mara's thoughts and future aspirations once they made it through the phase of the Rot.

"Oh, I'd be living a quiet life," Mara said with a teasing smile. "Something peaceful, like—oh, I don't know—gardening. You know, tending to plants, reading books, staying out of trouble."

Jorn scoffed, turning to give her a mock incredulous look. "Gardening? You?"

Mara shrugged, grinning. "Hey, I could make it work. I'd grow the biggest vegetables you've ever seen. Just imagine me in a wide-brimmed hat, peacefully watering my crops."

Jorn let out a genuine laugh, shaking her head. "Yeah, right. You'd get bored within a week."

Mara laughed, nudging Jorn lightly with her elbow. "Okay, fine. Maybe I'd find some trouble to stir up here and there. Gotta keep things interesting."

Before Jorn could respond, a voice broke through their conversation. "Well, well, if it isn't the 'last ronin' herself, taking a break from slaying monsters to chat about vegetables." Brady strolled up to them, hands in his pockets, a playful grin on his face.

Jorn rolled her eyes but couldn't help the slight smile that tugged at her lips. "What do you want, Brady?" she asked, feigning impatience.

"Just here to let our resident swordmaster and her lovely sidekick know about the debrief that's happening in ten minutes," Brady said with a smirk, pointing over his shoulder. "Seems our short vacation is over."

Mara nodded, her face growing a bit more serious, but her eyes still sparkled with amusement. "We'll be there."

Brady lingered for a moment, eyeing Jorn with a teasing glint. "You know," he said, leaning in slightly as if sharing a secret, "the kids have been calling you 'the last ronin' all morning. Apparently, you're their hero now."

Jorn groaned, though there was an unmistakable flush on her cheeks. "That's going to stick, isn't it?"

Mara chuckled, clearly enjoying this. "You should've seen them, Brady. They were running around, pretending to fight monsters with wooden swords, all while saying they were just like her. She's basically a legend now."

Jorn sighed dramatically. Brady grinned wider. "Well, if the hero business ever gets old, you could start a gardening club with Mara here."

Mara's eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned in toward Jorn, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "I mean, if you're the last ronin, I could be your humble sidekick. Maybe we could plant some crops while fending off the Rot."

Jorn shook her head, but she was grinning now, the playful banter easing the tension she usually carried around her shoulders. "Yeah, sure. We'll fight off the Rot with carrots and turnips."

"Hey, don't underestimate the power of vegetables," Mara said, her tone mock-serious. "You could be slaying the Rot with a well-aimed pumpkin."

Brady laughed, backing away as he gestured toward the camp. "Alright, you two. Get a move on before Del sends someone else to drag you in."

As Brady walked off, Mara gave Jorn a sidelong glance, her smile softening. "For what it's worth," she said quietly, "they're not wrong about you."

Jorn's grin faded into something more thoughtful. "I don't know about that," she muttered, but there was less doubt in her voice this time.