The quiet was broken by the sound of footsteps behind him. He turned, seeing Ava approaching with her usual confident stride.

"What are you doing out here?" she asked softly but in a curious tone.

"Nothing," Adrian replied, offering a faint smile.

Ava tilted her head, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "Well, I have something for you," she said, her grin widening.

Adrian tilted his head, a hint of curiosity crossing his features as he regarded Ava. "What is it?" he asked in a calm voice though he didn't hide the suspicion in it.

Ava's grin widened, a playful glint flashing in her eyes. "Close your eyes and stretch out your hand," she said in her usual teasing tone.

Adrian raised an eyebrow, his expression turning skeptical. "Is that really necessary?"

The look Ava gave him—a mixture of expectation and amusement—told him it absolutely was. With a resigned sigh, Adrian did as he was instructed, closing his eyes and extending his hand in front of him.

He could hear Ava fumbling around with something, likely in her pouch which was always around her waist. There was a brief silence, followed by the lightest touch as she placed something in his palm.

It felt small, cool, and familiar. The moment it hit his skin, Adrian's heart skipped a beat.

"Alright, open them," Ava said in a softer voice now, almost… serious.

Adrian opened his eyes, looking down at the object in his hand. His breath caught in his throat as he recognized it immediately: the locket.

The very same locket he had offered to Ava when signing their contract. Her required signature.

His mind raced as he stared at the simple, yet intricately detailed piece of jewelry. It was a treasured item, once belonging to his late wife, Elena.

The locket had been his most valuable possession, something he thought he would never see again after that moment when it had seemingly disappeared into the magic of the contract.

"Ava… what is this?" Adrian asked, his voice now more quiet, tinged with disbelief. "How do you still have it? I thought it melted or evaporated when we sealed the contract."

Ava crossed her arms, keeping her posture casual, but there was a softness in her eyes, a rare glimpse of sincerity. "It should have," she said, her voice lacking its usual playful edge. "But I guess my greed got the better of me. I asked for your most valuable possession, but I never really wanted to destroy it."

Adrian's brow furrowed as he turned the locket over in his hand, feeling its familiar weight. "So… you kept it? But how?" His eyes met hers, searching for answers. "And why give it back now?"

Ava sighed, brushing a strand of golden hair behind her ear. "It's yours, Adrian. It always has been. I thought I wanted it—wanted to keep it as part of our deal—but I realized it wasn't right. It's not mine to hold. It was never about the locket for me, really. I was being greedy, like I always am." She gave a rueful smile. "But I've had my fill of that. You deserve to have it back."

Adrian blinked, stunned by her words. He had always known Ava to be driven by ambition and wealth, her mind constantly focused on profit and gain.

Seeing her act in such a selfless way, even for a moment, was unexpected.

"But won't this affect the contract?" Adrian asked, glancing up at her, his hand tightening protectively around the locket. "Without the locket, won't the terms change?"

Ava shook her head, her eyes meeting his with a steady gaze. "No, it won't. I'm giving it back willingly, and that doesn't break the contract. The power I granted you remains yours, and this…" she gestured to the locket, "this is yours too. I'm just returning what was never mine to take."

Adrian exhaled deeply, taking in her words. Slowly, he turned the locket over in his hands, feeling the intricate designs etched into the surface. His thumb traced the outline of the clasp, and with a small click, he opened it.

Inside, just as he remembered, was a small portrait of Elena—her soft, smiling face staring back at him from within the delicate frame. She looked just as she had before he went on that diplomatic mission… before he got back and found her at dying point.

She looked so beautiful and serene, her eyes filled with a warmth that had always brought him comfort.

A sharp ache formed in his chest, the familiar pang of loss returning as memories of their life together flooded his mind.

Ava watched him in silence, her gaze softening as she saw the emotions flicker across his face. "I'll leave you to it," she said quietly, stepping back. "But before I go, I have a request."

Adrian's eyes flickered to her, his brows furrowing slightly. "What is it?" he asked.

She gave him a small, mysterious smile. "I'll tell you later. For now, I think you have more important things on your mind." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving him standing alone under the stars.

Adrian watched her retreating form for a moment, his mind momentarily distracted by what her request could possibly be. But as the sound of her footsteps faded into the night, his focus returned to the locket in his hands.

He turned back to the small portrait, gazing at Elena's face, her eyes as gentle as they had been in life. It had been months since she had passed, taken from him far too soon. And yet, holding the locket now, it was as if a piece of her was still with him.

The night air felt heavier, the silence around him suddenly louder as memories of their time together surfaced.

He remembered the first time he had given her the locket, a gift for their anniversary. They had been so young, so full of hope for the future.

He could still hear her laughter, the way her eyes had lit up when she opened the box and saw it for the first time. She had worn it every day after that, a symbol of their love and the life they had shared.

And then she was gone.

Torn away from him by forces beyond his control. The grief had nearly consumed him, leaving him hollow and lost. The locket had been one of the few things he had left of her, something tangible to hold onto when the world felt too empty.

Adrian's fingers tightened around the locket as he closed it gently, his heart heavy with the weight of his memories. He hadn't realized how much he missed her—how much he still missed her, even after all these years.

He leaned against the nearby post, staring out at the horizon, the moonlight casting a silver glow over the village. The quiet hum of Brenden settling down for the night surrounded him, but in that moment, Adrian felt utterly alone.

The locket felt warm in his hand, as though it held some remnant of Elena's presence, some echo of the love they had shared. He had thought he had moved past the grief, had buried it deep beneath the weight of his duties and responsibilities.

But now, standing here with the locket in his hand, it all came rushing back.

Adrian exhaled slowly, his breath visible in the cool night air. Elena had been his anchor, his guiding star. She had believed in him when no one else did, had stood by his side even when the odds seemed insurmountable.

Her loss had left a void in his heart that no amount of power or victory could ever fill.

For a long moment, he just stood there, staring at the locket, letting the memories wash over him. The image of her face remained in his mind, clear and vivid, as if she were standing beside him once more.

But she wasn't. And no amount of wishing could bring her back.

Adrian closed his eyes, taking a deep, steadying breath. He had to let her go. He knew that. But tonight… tonight he would allow himself to remember.

As the night stretched on, Adrian's thoughts drifted to the future, to the battles that lay ahead. The Shadow Court was a looming threat, and there were still three goddesses to find, allies to gather.

There was no time for lingering in the past.

But as he held the locket, he knew that Elena's memory would always be with him, guiding him in the shadows of his heart.

Eventually, the sound of footsteps in the distance signaled someone's approach, but Adrian didn't turn to see who it was. Instead, he simply slipped the locket into his pocket.

He wasn't alone. Not really.

Elena's memory would always be a part of him, just as much as the path he now walked.

And with that thought, he straightened, his resolve hardening once more. Whatever Ava's request was, whatever battles awaited him, he would face them with the same determination that had carried him this far.

Because he knew, deep down, that Elena wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

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