SYPHER

She then removed her earrings, and her appearance returned to normal before their eyes. Much to their surprise, the children began to whine that they didn't want her to leave yet.

"C'mon, big sis, don't leave yet!" 

"There's so much more to see around here; we can show you!"

"Y-yeah, that would be nice…"

Terra bombarded with even more requests from the kids, felt saddened to just have to up and leave as she began to untie Xavien's surprisingly tight knots. Once freed, Xavien stretched and bowed his head in apology to the group. 

"We're sorry for intruding on your time and space. You won't have to see our faces much longer, and your secrets are safe with us."

"Yeah! It was really fun, but we better get back before we get in trouble with our higher-ups-"

"…"

"Do you really have to leave so soon?"

A deeper voice sounded apart from the group; it was Dante. He didn't know what the feeling was, but it felt as if he didn't want the two to leave just yet. He had learned so much quickly, thanks to them showing up when they did. Learning of the Kingdom and the Academy could bring to light more information that he could learn about what's outside of the village gates. The two newcomers standing before him were the first people he was associated with outside the village. He'd never want to forget about them and not talk with them more.

"Maybe you guys should at least…visit the Tavern in town to eat. The food is delicious there."

He said, slightly looking away, that the thought of them leaving conflicted him. With them visiting the Tavern, he'd at least be able to see them for a little more before they went. But he may have forgotten one other factor in this whole debacle. 

"Miss Rita…"

"Rita?"

"My caretaker… she's not supposed to know you two have seen me or even know of my existence. If she does, she'll probably gut you guys."

Xavien and Terra looked confused before answering his worry. Though they were okay with not mentioning the sight of him to anyone outside, Terra wondered about the caretaker, and Xavien worried more about his well-being.

"Wait, you mean she takes care of you?"

"SHE'LL GUT ME!?"

Dante scratched his head as he explained who Rita was to not only him but the village—not only his caretaker but also the Tavern Owner and protector of Riverant Village. This shocked the two to hear of such a capable woman in such a place, but it was a fair warning of what they'd have to come across if they wanted to settle into getting some food there without walking out without their bowels.

"She's very protective of me, which I get…but I wish she'd trust me to go out and see new things independently. She's the reason I haven't even left the village yet."

Terra began to think to herself as Xavien freaked out at the thought of being cleaved in half for even knowing about his existence. 

"What if we somehow convinced her to let you go? Maybe it'd be possible with a few strings being pulled..." Terra said as she began considering the options, much to Xavien's displeasure.

"No way that's happening, you heard what he said. There's no way she'd allow him to leave."

"You gotta consider all of the options, Xavien. You're way too close-minded; it's so uncool."

"Un- Wait, that doesn't matter; my job is to get you home safely! Not do all of these side quests!"

The two bickered as Dante wondered what it would be like to leave Riverant with these two; many ideas passed through his mind. From happily adventuring around in imaginative scenarios he'd create in his head to thinking about the worries of leaving, being caught by the wrong crowd, and ending up like a boar on a stick. He came to the conclusion that he wouldn't know until he tried. A new sense of determination filled when he felt the same warmth from the wand hiding in his back pocket. He didn't understand why it'd react the way it did, but he took it as a sign of thinking along the right path.

He then discusses the best way to get past Rita's questioning and what she'd probably ask if she met them in the Tavern. Since she can't know he associated himself with them, he'd be away from the Tavern when they go. With his advice, they'd be fine and able to set off safely. The thought of leaving with them was still on their mind, but he knew that Rita would probably kill him the moment she found out he was missing. Though he'd instead the two get in her good graces, they may revisit the village. This time, without sneaking around so much, he realized that he truly enjoyed having the two around for the short time they were there.

Everyone agreed to the plan as the kids began to guide Terra and Xavien to the village; Dante stayed back and waved them off as they set off to the Tavern. Terra looks back once more to see him waving and gives a small wave back. Clearly, he is not satisfied with the choice of letting him stay cooped up in the village for so long. He was unlike anything she'd heard of the Dragonborn from reading many stories; the book's vicious descriptions and wild distaste amongst the Kingdom's people always confused her. It seemed that no matter what, the people in the stories would always write them off instantly, which felt unfair. Especially now since she indeed met an actual dragonborn. Dante was a naive yet lovely person in her mind. She hoped she could help him with his goal of leaving someday.