4 Months have past after Lucien had left the Vault he met a women who lives alone in a cabin deep in the forest but is also at a nearby village her name is Maelis who offered him a place to stay after finding him on the verge of dying because of the cold. Since he is staying with her for weeks helping out with chores as its his rent for staying.
"Woah there Lucien don't push yourself you still young to carry those"
Lucien nods but still wants to take the heavy water back in the house. Maelis gives up on him as he is always stubborn but he atleast helps around the house he learned how to cook, clean and wash his own clothing even though at first he did not have extra clothes So Maelis went to town the next day with Lucien to by him some more and new clothes.
One day Maelis wanted to go to town again to meet a friend for some catching up so she asked "Lucien I'm going out you wanna come with?" waiting for his answer believing that he will want to come aswell but his response shocks her.
"No its okay i will stay here at home.
Maelis still confused asks "Are you sure won't you be lonely here by yourself"
She felt a little worried as whenever she went somewhere Lucien would ask to come with this new side of him was shocking but after a while she let it go.
"Okay its fine behave while you are alone okay."
"Yes Ma'am." Lucien says with a smile on his face that melts Maelis's heart
"Okay bye." waving her hand while opening the door then starts walking to town.
After she left Lucien goes outside and heads to a tree which he marked with a "K" he digs a whole and takes out a blade which was Kaela's blade. He looks at the blade but holds himself from shedding tears again. He gribs the blade and runs into the forest as the reason he declined the offer was because he wanted to out to train.
He meets some trolls on the way so he stops he takes a offensive stance then goes for the kill the trolls see this and also go for the kill. One troll goes for the kill but he barely dodges then slices the head of the troll off its shoulders.
He continues the same process for the rest of the trolls then after that he sees its about time for Maelis to return from the friend visit so he goes back with some strength and hides the blade back in the hole and goes back in the house.
Maelis arrives back and as soon as she opens the door she smells something that makes her hungry again even though she literally ate at her friends house but she does not care.
"Lucien I'm ho-" smelling the food she sees Lucien setting up the table. "Oh hey Maelis how was the visit?"
"It was okay but Lucien. feeling the hunger destroy her stomach
"Did you cook this?" Lucien confused answered back" Yes I did is something wrong?"
Maelis shakes her head telling Lucien that nothing is wrong she is just shocked as he cooked her special recipe alone without asking. Lucien actually was observing her when she cooked the meal. Then after practicing he finally mastered it.Lucien serves the food and they start eating as normal family.
Lucien after eating goes to the bed to sleep leaving Maelis while resting he knows its time to leave but he does not how he will tell her but he must get the courage to do it
THE NEXT DAY
Its time for Lucien to tell the sad news so he wakes up and sees Maelis at the kitchen cleaning he is scared but he has to do it so he goes to Maelis in which she sees Lucien approaching she gives him a smile "Morning sleepy head"
Luciens returns back the greeting but with a sad face Maelis sees this and asks whats wrong so he tells her.
"Maelis i wanted to say this these four months have been nice you took care of me as your own son in which i am grateful of that but.
"But what is something wrong?"
"I'm sorry but i have to leave you I can't stay with you any longer.
Maelis looks at him but instead of crying yelling or something else she just smiles which makes Lucien confused he though that she might be crying her eyes out but the smile of her is confusing.
"I already knew it I was just waiting for you to stay those exact words and yes i know you might be thinking that why am i not crying yelling and everything but why would i that's so stupid. She hugs Lucien making him shed a tear again feeling the same warmth like Mary and Kaela.
The air was clean. Frost from the morning still clung to the grass, but the sun was shining through the trees — warm, golden, soft.
Lucien stood in front of the cabin, dressed already in what Maelis had quietly laid out for him the night before: a black tunic that fit him well, brown reinforced pants, and sturdy leather boots that gave him the feeling he was one of the folk that dwelled beyond these woods. A green scarf draped loosely over his neck, its ends whipping in the minimal breeze.
Maelis huddled in the doorway, arms over chest attempting not to look too concerned.
"So… you're really leaving."
Lucien nodded, his gaze down at first. "Yeah. Time is."
"You sure you don't want to wait one more day? I can have stew for supper tonight. That little smirk of yours could stand to gain a little weight."
Lucien's gaze rose and he grinned. A real one. Not forced, not prickly. Soft.
If I wait any longer… I won't go.
Maelis smiled to herself. "Clever kid."
She moved closer and touched him, brushing off an imaginary speck of dust from his shoulder a guise to linger.
"You look like a man with a story to tell," she said. "Not just a stray anymore."
Lucien shifted uncomfortably but didn't respond.
He had wanted to explain everything to her who he really was, where he was from, the blood on his hands, the flame in his dreams, the power in his chest that even scared him.
But he didn't.
Not because he didn't trust her.
Because he didn't want to ruin the one place where he'd been treated like *just a boy.*
"Thank you," he said softly.
Maelis nodded, and then in the quiet, hurried motion of someone who dreaded being caught pulled him into a hug. Quick. Solid. Just… sufficient.
"If the world gets heavy," she whispered,
"remember there's a place it once let you breathe."
Lucien shut his eyes. His throat thickened. The scarf around his neck seemed, suddenly, something he could never afford to recall.
"I'll come back. Someday."
'You better,' she told him, stepping back laughing but her eyes glittered slightly.
Lucien turned, looked again at the canted small cabin that had been a miracle in the snow…
Then vanished into the trees, step by step, careful and silent.