Had something convinced her it did? A sudden knock interrupted my thoughts.
Three soft knocks.
I opened the door. Cassel stood outside.
"I thought you'd still be awake."
I smiled weakly. "I can't sleep."
"I know." He held out a steaming metal cup.
"I asked the kitchen for tea."
"It's not very good."
"But it's warm."
I accepted it.
The heat spread through my cold fingers.
"Thank you." For a while...
Neither of us spoke.
We stood beside the broken window, watching the moonlight spill across the ruined city.
Finally... Cassel spoke. "Are you afraid?"
I stared into the cup.
"...Yes."
He nodded once.
"I've never seen an enemy like this."
"I don't know what she'll do next."
"I don't know who she'll target."
"I don't even know whether I can trust the future anymore."
Cassel looked out at the city.
"You don't need to."
I looked at him.
"The future changes every day."
"It changed the moment you decided to fight instead of giving up."
