"You should stay."
Vica shook her head. "I can't."
"Of course you can." Seren took her hands in her own and laced their fingers together. "You can't be serious about this. You've been with us your whole life. What will we do?"
"Don't be silly. I've never been useful anyway." Vica absently drew circles on Seren's hand with her thumb as she stared out at the surface of the lake. The first hints of color slipped across the water, reflecting the rays of the rising sun. It was nearly time to leave. "Philio was the one who did everything. I won't lie, though. I'm worried about what happens to you all now that he isn't around."
Seren squeezed Vica's hand and looked hard at the side of her face, searching for a sign that the latter would change her mind. "He did many good things for us - I don
