Calen had secretly been happy when Azul stayed behind. After all, it meant he had one less rival competing for Roxanna's attention.
But now, seeing her cry so helplessly, that small bit of happiness disappeared without a trace.
"Hey, we'll definitely see them again," Calen said softly, doing his best to comfort her.
He scooted closer until he was sitting right beside her. After a brief moment of hesitation, he gently rested a hand on her shoulder.
"And when that day comes," he continued, "Azura will be healthy. She'll be able to breathe on her own, and she'll be waiting for us."
Instead of calming her down, his words made Roxanna cry even harder.
She had been holding back her emotions ever since she left Aquillian, trying to stay strong, but she couldn't do it anymore and all the sadness she had been keeping inside finally poured out.
Without thinking, she leaned into Calen and buried her face against his chest, letting herself cry as much as she needed.
