Velmorra didn't want to let him go.
It hummed behind him the way a place does when it accidentally gets attached to someone. The rune trams clinked, the streets murmured, and somewhere a goose probably judged someone for existing incorrectly.
Aiden stood at the edge of town with a travel pack, staring back like he was leaving behind the weirdest fever dream of warmth and chaos.
"…This place is insane," he muttered.
Senior hovered beside him, elegant as always, as if wind accommodated him rather than the other way around.
"You generated the majority of that insanity," Senior replied helpfully.
"That makes me feel worse."
"Good. It should."
Aiden snorted despite himself.
He didn't hate Velmorra.
He didn't resent it.
He just didn't trust the universe to let too many good days stack without counting coins eventually.
So he turned away from the city.
No goodbye parties.
No dramatic farewells.
He didn't want to leave echoes.
He just… left.
They took one last walk through the city before they departed.
The baker waved like Aiden had rewritten his year.
The tavern workers nodded with the exhausted respect owed to someone who didn't technically start the goose incident but was spiritually responsible.
Children waved because Velmorra refused to let innocence die completely.
Aiden waved back awkwardly.
"Hurry," he muttered to Senior. "Before something turns into a festival again."
Senior hummed.
"You may relax. The… watcher left a few hours ago."
Aiden blinked.
"...Watcher?"
Senior looked far too pleased with himself.
"Yes. The girl."
"…What girl?"
"The one who was stalking you."
Aiden stopped walking.
"What—someone was stalking me?!"
"Investigating," Senior corrected gently. "Observing. Monitoring. Shadowing. Calculating. Taking very detailed emotional notes."
"That sounds way worse!"
"Yes," Senior agreed cheerfully.
Aiden wildly looked around, as if she might pop out of a barrel.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!?"
"You did not ask."
"That's NOT how communication works!"
Senior looked positively delighted.
"She was very professional. Quite skilled. Would have fooled most mortals. Or… mortals who do not simply attract attention through gravitational nonsense."
Aiden groaned into his hands.
"You're telling me a girl watched my stupid chaos parade life unravel and just… followed me around taking notes?"
"Yes."
"Is she dangerous?"
"Competent," Senior said with admiration. "Sharp. Pragmatic. Cautious. Fascinating."
"So… yes."
"Possibly. Or perhaps she is simply invested in your continued survival for professional reasons."
"That sounds romantic and awful at the same time."
"Yes."
Aiden dragged a palm down his face.
"What if she thinks I'm a danger?"
"Oh, she absolutely does."
"WHY WOULD YOU SAY IT LIKE THAT—"
"But," Senior continued calmly, "she is not wrong to be cautious. Neither are you."
Aiden went quiet.
He took one last look at Velmorra.
Something like guilt sat in his chest.
And something like fondness.
And something like fear of ruining something precious.
"…Let's go," he said softly.
"Yes."
Far behind them, on a rooftop, Seris Valen watched the last glimpse of him disappear past the horizon.
No parade.
No farewell.
Good.
Quiet movement was safer for everyone.
She sighed.
"This is ridiculous," she muttered. "People don't just… carry influence like that."
But he did.
He remembered to leave.
That mattered more than most would ever understand.
Her hand tightened on the railing.
"…Don't make me regret letting you out of my jurisdiction," she whispered.
Wind dragged the words away.
She turned back to her work.
But she did not forget.
On the road, silence stretched between Aiden and Senior.
Not heavy.
Just thoughtful.
Aiden finally muttered,
"…So she really followed me?"
"Oh yes. With remarkable persistence."
"She probably thinks I'm cursed."
"She thinks many things," Senior said calmly. "She will decide a name for you when she feels safe doing so. Mortals like labels. They think it helps."
"Does it?"
"No. But it comforts them."
Aiden laughed softly.
"Think I'll meet her again?"
Senior smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Aiden swallowed.
He didn't know if that scared him or comforted him.
Maybe both.
Probably both.
They continued down the road.
The world waited.
The universe kept score.
Velmorra faded behind them.
And wherever they were going next…
someone, somewhere,
was probably already going to have a very strange day because of him.