Having escaped her cell, Bethany made her way towards Steven's shop. Her last stop on route to freedom and saving her mother. She didn't often visit his house, but she would occasionally frequent the butcher's shop after hours. Steven would be sweeping and generally cleaning, and she would chat and on occasion, help with closing up the stall. Sure, enough Steven was there sweeping by candlelight. She nervously stepped in having not seen him since the meeting at the start of this whole thing. he was level 1 now, for all that mattered but otherwise seemed unchanged.

Seeing Bethany, he smiled and beckoned her in. If she was honest, she had kind of expected more. After all they hadn't seen each other in a while, and she had been in prison. In fact, why hadn't he visited her? It's not like it wasn't common knowledge she was in the prison. The whole village knew by that point. Bethany stepped in and set herself up on a stool from behind the counter as she had once done many weeks ago. Before she could say anything, Steven started.

"So how have you been?"

"How have I been? How have I been? Steven I was in prison!! Why didn't you visit?

"Well, honestly? I didn't know if you would want me to."

"You're my friend why wouldn't I want you to visit. I was in prison!" Bethany was getting heated.

Steven stopped sweeping. "You don't let me visit.” He said curtly, “That's not how this has ever worked, you've never wanted me to reach out or visit. It's always driven you away. Instead, I hope you can be bothered to visit me. That's how this works, you've always dictated the terms, don't blame me for that."

Bethany couldn't believe what she was hearing. Surely, he was mistaken. It wasn't like that. She tried to remember a time when he had visited her or had sought her out. She couldn't think of any. But that didn't reflect badly on her did it? If anything, she should be the annoyed one if he never initiated anything.

"How is that fair. If you aren't visiting me doesn't that make you the bad friend not me? Instead, I’ve apparently always been the one to reach out."

Steven grabbed his brush and started to sweep aggressively. "No that’s not true. I did reach out, I have reached out many times over the years, but you were never receptive, you were too tired or busy or just weren't up for conversation. Over time I learnt to let you have your own life and to visit mine on occasion, like a travelling merchant you popped in and out."

This was all news to Bethany, had she really been so poor at handling their friendship. It was true that coming out from her friendship with Mandy she had been a little closed off, and less prone to hang out al the time, but had she really been a bad friend like that. They'd always got on well, that wasn't the question but maybe he was right, maybe she had been a bad friend to him.

She stood up and took the broom from him and gestured to him to sit down with her for a minute.

"You know what, I think you are right. I haven't been a good friend here. I wish that wasn't true, but I think it is. Unfortunately, I don't have time to fix this. I have to go, I’m sure you heard about my mother." Bethany paused, unsure of her next statement offer. "You could come with me to rescue her. Give me a chance to make it up to you. This village isn't going to be safe going forwards. Staying here isn't wise. The world is changing, and we could face it together."

Steven stood up and offered a hug to Bethany which she accepted, they stood there for a while, neither saying a word. The gesture said it all.

"I can't come Bethany; dad needs me here to help with the shop. I can't leave him alone and he wouldn't come. I'm sorry."

Bethany pulled Steven closer, hugging him tighter. "I did appreciate you; you know. Even if I wasn't the best friend, I couldn't have done the last couple of years without you." Eventually Bethany broke the hug. I got you a little something, from my Trial, I hope you like it.

From Bethany's bag she pulled the small device she'll bought on Stilwart's suggestion. It was a handheld device that could hold hundreds of books on it. Apparently, there were lots of books on their planet that were so old they could be accessed for free. As such Bethany had chosen as many of them as possible to stick on the device as it wasn't like Steven would have the chance to choose more books. Steven didn't understand the gift at first but once Bethany had explained some of the features and pointed out some of the books Stilwart suggested, he seemed to get the grasp of it.

The gift got them away from the heavier topics and got them talking. For the first time ever with Steven Bethany was fully open and told him all about her hopes, how much she'd been hurt by Mandy and her escapades on Lexicoth. In turn Steven listened and occasionally chimed in, asking questions and being generally supportive. The more she talked the more Bethany felt herself shaking the fear that Steven might betray her too. Something that while subconscious had been present their whole friendship. Eventually Bethany realised she'd let too much time pass and that she needed to leave. She had spent more time there than was wise but didn't regret it.

She hugged Steven goodbye once more and wished him well. As she started to head towards the door Steven stopped her and told her to wait before vanished into the back for 5 or 10 minutes. He reappeared with a bulging bag. This should keep you going for a while. I can't imagine you successfully hunting anything. Bethany couldn't believe she hadn't thought of something as basic as food. It was around 5 days travel to the capital, and she couldn't exactly survive that long without food. With that though it was time to go.

"Goodbye Steven, I'll miss you"

"Goodbye Bethany, I hope to see you again someday"

"Steven, you can call me Beth. We'll meet again i promise."

"Goodbye Beth"

Bethany slipped out the door, feeling better for her talk with Steven. He'd been her last stop which meant it was time for her to leave Barrowmede behind. If she had her way, it would be the last time she was there. As she looked around the streets, she grew up on she felt a layer of melancholy settle over her. Obviously, she wouldn't miss the place, she'd been miserable there. But the few good memories she had were logically there too.

For better or worse, Barrowmede made her who she was and the nameplate above her head made that very clear. She set off towards the capital trusting the road would clear due to the extremely late hour, and that she wouldn't have to worry about bumping into anybody. After all nobody appeared to have found Mandy yet, so nobody knew of her escape. She set off on the dirt road leading out of town for the first time ready to save her mother and find a new home. She didn't look back.