"So, I guess you'll leave soon?" Miryanna asked.

Iphnis nodded.

"Oh," Miryanna looked downcast. "I'll miss you, Iphnis. I honestly don't know how I would have taken car of Karayan without you."

Iphnis wished she hadn't said that. Now he felt guilty, almost, for leaving. But he had to! Miryanna wouldn't couldn't understand how he had to. Not so much that she wouldn't understand it he told her, it's just that she more wasn't allowed to. Iphnis had risked so much already.

*cracks knuckles*

They sat in silence. Miryanna yawned, but didn't get up.

"I'll take first watch," Iphnis offered.

"Oh, are you sure?" She questioned?

Iphnis nodded.

"Alright, then see you at midnight," She said, going over to the couch and laying down.

Iphnis was the sole awake occupant of the room.

He decided he'd leave at dawn. Right before Miryanna awoke. He didn't want to confront her before he left. She'd no doubt make the parting even harder. But he would leave; no matter what.

When at last the eastern sky started to pale, he gathered up all his things and packed them up. If all went well, he would leave undetected. He'd written a note that he'd leave behind; he didn't want to disappear without any trace at all.

He was just about to leave, when he heard Karayan's hoarse voice.

"Iphnis?"

Iphnis stopped, and turned his gaze back on Karayan.

"Are you leaving?" He asked.

Iphnis nodded, hoping Karayan could see in the dim light.

"Oh," Karayan murmured, "why?"

Iphnis sighed and his gaze traveled to the floor. "Because I have to." Was all he said. He opened the door softly and was about to step through, when Karayan stopped him again.

"When will you be back?"

Iphnis paused before answering, "I don't know that I will."

Karyan looked surprised, then grieved at this, but he said, "Good luck, Iphnis. You do what you must."

Iphnis looked back to Karayan, and a faint smile touched his lips. "Thank you," He said, and disappeared through the door, closing it quietly behind him. He crept through the halls of the great house, not disturbing anything, until he was at last outside. The sun had yet to appear over the horizon. He was doing good on time.

Miryanna awoke soon after he left. She rubbed her eyes free of sleep and sat up, yawning. It was morning. She wondered why Iphnis hadn't woken her up halfway through the night. Then she looked around the room for him and saw that he was gone. Curious, she thought, standing up and walking to the small table. On it she saw a slip of paper. She picked it and and read: Farewell, Miryanna -Iphnis.

some note

Miryanna stared at the note for a long time. He was gone? Just like that? She knew he would leave soon, but she didn't expect him to leave that way: without even a goodbye.

She went to the window and looked out, hoping to maybe see him. She didn't, so maybe he took the road instead. It didn't seem like Iphnis to take the same way a lot of humans traveled, but he had changed in the time he and she had looked after Karayan.

Miryannna found herself frustrated at his manner of leave taking. She'd gotten to know him better in these days that she'd been with him tending Karayan than all days previous. Tough nut to crack. He'd changed rather, too. He was no longer so bright and fresh and airy. He'd become... more humanlike almost. Miryanna found herself thinking that while the new Iphnis was easier to get to know and understand, the old Iphnis was more... Iphnis. Maybe he'd been missing his people. Maybe that was why he left. The more she thought about it, the more sense it made. Well, she thought, at least there was a reason.

man, I get some character arc in and then decide I need to go back to square one.