"What?" Kael's laughter vanished instantly. His tone hardened, and his gaze sharpened. "The commander? What would the Empire's strongest swordsman want with you?"
Zaros didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached for his sword and rested it across his lap. He ran a hand along the blade's surface, his eyes distant. "This," he said quietly, "was his first and last gift to me. I received it for my tenth birthday." His fingers tightened around the hilt. "From that day on, he made me wield it every single day. No matter the hour or the weather. My life revolved around this sword and one goal."
He gave a bitter, hollow laugh. "To land a single hit on the Commander of the Order. Can you imagine that? A child trying to surpass a legend?"
Kael stayed silent, watching as Zaros's expression hardened.
"That's what my father wanted: to forge a successor who could carry on his will, pride, and strength." Zaros sighed deeply and set the sword aside. His shoulders slumped as the tension drained from him. "My life before the academy was nothing but training, from morning to night, day after day. Coming here was the first time I actually lived."
Kael hesitated before speaking in a low voice. "And why did he come to see you now?"
Zaros looked away, his expression unreadable. "He just wanted to make sure that I'm improving and that I won't lose a duel. He still expects me to join his Order after graduation."
Kael's thoughts stirred uneasily. The Order. The elite knights of the Empire who are loyal only to the crown. If they discovered what he was doing, they would arrest him on the spot. He clenched his fists. And Zaros's father is their commander?
"Why didn't you ever tell me about your father?" Kael asked calmly, but with a hint of accusation in his voice.
Zaros met his gaze, guilt flickering behind his eyes. "I wanted to tell you both. But my father forbade it. He said that I had to build a name for myself here. Without leaning on his reputation." A small, bitter smile crossed his lips. "Not that I ever planned to use his reputation."
Kael studied him for a moment, and the tension in his shoulders eased. He could hear the sincerity in Zaros's tone. Whatever secrets the Order held, Zaros wasn't part of them. He'd never betray me. That much, Kael was sure of.
"Enough about my family problems," Zaros said suddenly, his tone shifting back to its usual teasing warmth. "You said Lia visited you this morning, right? So, is it official?"
"Stop grinning like an idiot," Kael muttered, rolling his eyes. "No, it's not like that. She just wanted to talk about what we found in Astra's room. She's taking a course with Professor Nora and wants to figure out if he's trustworthy."
Zaros said nothing. He simply looked at Kael for a while—long enough for Kael to feel uncomfortable under his gaze. Then, Zaros's expression softened.
"You know how she feels about you, right?"
Kael froze.
"Do we really have to talk about this now?"
"Yes, we do. Zaros's tone was firm, almost fatherly. He stood and crossed his arms. "If you keep avoiding it, it's only going to get worse."
Kael sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I'm aware of her feelings. But this isn't the time for that."
"No," Zaros said sharply. "That's an excuse. You're hiding behind your duties and guilt. You can't return her feelings, and you can't tell her why. So, you just ignore them instead. But that's not fair to her, Kael."
Kael looked away, his expression heavy. "You think I don't know that?" he whispered. "Do you think it doesn't tear me apart?"
Zaros didn't answer at once. His eyes softened the way they always did when he saw Kael's walls cracking.
"So what?" Kael yelled, finally losing his patience. "What do you want me to do? Should I tell her that I don't love her and crush her feelings? You know her as well as I do. She wouldn't handle that."
His voice quieted as his anger faded into tiredness. "Tell me, Zaros. What should I do?"
"Be honest with her," Zaros said softly and sincerely. "Tell her you don't see her that way, at least not right now, but that she's your precious friend. Sometimes that kind of bond is even closer than love."
After a brief pause, he smirked and winked. "And who knows? What isn't yet might still become."
Kael stared at him for a moment before a small laugh escaped his lips. The tension between them melted, and Zaros joined in. Their laughter echoed softly in the quiet room.
"You're right," Kael said, stretching his arms with a sigh. "I think I'll head back to my room. It's late anyway."
Zaros glanced out the window and muttered under his breath, "I wasted my whole day. That little troublemaker...she'll pay for that one day."
Kael chuckled as he left the room.
The air outside was cool and still. He stopped at the entrance to the dormitory and looked up at the night sky. The moon hung high in the sky—calm, distant, and impossibly bright.
"The moon looks beautiful tonight," he muttered. Silent and untouchable...just like the peace I'm chasing.