Quietly, Elias took the compass and tucked it under Leo’s pillow. It was more than a gift; it was a promise.
"You forgot something," Leo panted, holding the compass out. Brotherly Love
Leo shook his head, pressing the wooden disc back into Elias's palm. "I already know where I am, and I know where you're going. You're the one heading into the fog, Elias. You take it. As long as you have it, I'll know you’re coming back. That's how I'll find my way—by waiting for you." Quietly, Elias took the compass and tucked it
His younger brother, Leo, was fast asleep, his chest rising and falling with the effortless peace of someone who didn't yet know they were leaving. Tomorrow, Elias would head to the coast to find work, a journey that meant leaving Leo behind with their aunt in the valley. It was the only way to keep them both fed, but the guilt felt like a physical weight. Leo shook his head, pressing the wooden disc