Leo sat by the edge of the training grounds, the evening sky painted with hues of orange and purple. The day’s exhaustion weighed on him, but his thoughts wandered to memories of simpler times, back when life in Eldoria was untainted by the shadow of war.

  A familiar voice broke through his reverie. “Thinking about home again, aren’t you?”

  Leo turned to see Finn approaching, a grin spread across his face. Finn’s sandy blond hair was tousled, and his clothes bore the marks of a day spent helping with camp duties. Despite the grime, his vibrant green eyes still sparkled with mischief.

  “Can’t help it,” Leo admitted, patting the ground beside him. “Sometimes it feels like I can still hear the sound of the wind through the trees or the laughter of the villagers.”

  Finn plopped down with a sigh, stretching his legs out in front of him. “I hear it too. But I also remember you falling into the river that one time.”

  Leo rolled his eyes. “I was seven, and you dared me to cross that rickety old log.”

  Finn chuckled, the sound warm and infectious. “And you still tried. That’s what I like about you, Leo. Stubborn as a mule.”

  Their friendship had always been a cornerstone of Leo’s life. Finn had been his partner in every adventure, from exploring the dense woods around Eldoria to sneaking pastries from old Mrs. Wren’s bakery. The two were inseparable, bonded by a shared love of mischief and an unspoken understanding that they would always have each other’s backs.

  One memory stood out vividly in Leo’s mind. It was a summer afternoon, and the two of them had decided to catch fireflies in the meadow just outside the village. Finn had brought a jar with holes punched in the lid, proudly proclaiming it to be their “firefly lantern.”

  “Come on, Leo, you’re too slow!” Finn had called, darting through the tall grass.

  Leo had laughed, chasing after him with outstretched hands. The meadow was alive with the soft glow of the fireflies, their light dancing like tiny stars. By the time they collapsed onto the grass, the jar was half full, and Finn was grinning ear to ear.

  “See?” Finn had said, holding the jar up to admire their catch. “We made our own little piece of the night sky.”

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  Even now, the memory brought a smile to Leo’s face. It was moments like those that had made Eldoria feel like paradise, a place where the weight of the world didn’t exist.

  “Remember the time we tried to build that treehouse?” Finn asked, pulling Leo back to the present.

  Leo groaned. “How could I forget? We spent weeks gathering wood, and it all came crashing down the moment we tried to climb it.”

  “Hey, it was a solid plan,” Finn defended, though his grin betrayed his amusement. “We just didn’t account for gravity.”

  The two of them laughed, the sound cutting through the quiet of the camp. It was a rare moment of levity, a reminder of the bond they shared.

  “I miss those days,” Leo said after a while, his voice tinged with sadness. “Things were so much simpler back then.”

  Finn nodded, his expression growing serious. “Yeah, but we can’t go back. All we can do is move forward. Make sure we don’t lose sight of who we are, no matter how hard things get.”

  Leo looked at him, admiration swelling in his chest. Finn had always been the optimist, the one who could find a glimmer of hope in even the darkest of times. It was a quality that Leo leaned on more than he cared to admit.

  The night deepened, and the two friends wandered through the camp. They passed groups of refugees huddled around fires, their faces illuminated by the flickering light. Finn’s easy demeanor seemed to put people at ease, and Leo watched as he stopped to chat with a young boy struggling to tie a bundle of firewood.

  “Here, let me show you a trick,” Finn said, crouching down and demonstrating a simple knot. The boy watched intently, his frown replaced by a tentative smile.

  “Thank you,” the boy whispered, clutching the bundle tightly.

  Finn ruffled the boy’s hair. “You’ve got this, kid. Keep practicing, and you’ll be a pro in no time.”

  As they moved on, Leo couldn’t help but marvel at Finn’s ability to connect with people. It was a gift, one that Leo knew would serve him well in the trials ahead.

  “You’ve always been good with people,” Leo said. “It’s like you know exactly what to say to make them feel better.”

  Finn shrugged, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. “I just… I try to see things from their perspective. Everyone’s carrying something heavy. Sometimes all they need is someone to share the load.”

  As the night wore on, the two found themselves back at the training grounds, now empty and silent. They sat on the edge of the sparring ring, staring up at the stars that dotted the sky.

  “Do you ever think about what comes next?” Leo asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Finn tilted his head, considering the question. “Sometimes. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know one thing for sure.”

  “What’s that?”

  Finn looked at him, his expression earnest. “Whatever happens, we face it together. You and me, like always.”

  Leo felt a lump rise in his throat. He nodded, unable to find the words to express the depth of his gratitude. Finn had been his anchor, his constant in a world that seemed determined to tear them apart. Together, they could weather any storm.

  In that moment, under the vast expanse of the night sky, Leo made a silent vow. No matter what trials lay ahead, he would protect Finn and honor the bond they shared. For in Finn, he found not just a friend, but a brother—a reminder of the strength that came from standing together.