Amoriel stared at the screen for a moment longer.
The image she had just taken remained there—slightly tilted, her hair still uneven from sleep, expression unreadable.
"…Better," she said quietly.
Not perfect.
But closer.
Her finger hovered over the screen again, following the small icons without fully understanding them.
One tap.
The image shifted.
Another tap.
A different panel opened.
Text.
A name.
Lyra.
Amoriel paused.
"…Message."
She remembered that word.
It meant sending something.
Information.
She looked at the photo again.
Then, without hesitation—
Tapped.
A brief flicker.
A small sound.
Sent.
She watched the screen for a second.
"…It moved."
That seemed correct.
She nodded once, satisfied.
"Recorded."
She lowered the phone slightly, still holding it as if it were something delicate.
Then—
A sound echoed from somewhere deeper in the house.
Water.
Running.
She turned her head toward the hallway.
"…He is still occupied."
Another small pause.
Then—
A sharp chime.
Different from before.
Her eyes dropped back to the phone.
The screen lit up again.
More text.
Short.
Fast.
She didn't fully understand it.
But one thing was clear.
"…Response."
She tapped again.
Not carefully this time.
The screen shifted too quickly.
New menus.
More icons.
She paused.
"…This is complicated."
Before she could figure it out—
A knock.
Firm.
Clear.
From the front door.
Amoriel looked up.
"…Another input."
She placed the phone down on the table and walked toward the sound without hesitation.
Her steps were quiet.
Measured.
She reached the door, resting her hand on the handle for a brief second before opening it.
The morning light spilled in.
And standing there—
Was Lyra.
There was a pause.
Not long.
But enough.
Lyra's gaze moved once.
From Amoriel—
To the space behind her.
Then back again.
"…Why are you here."
Her voice wasn't loud.
Not sharp.
Just flat.
Amoriel answered without delay.
"I am staying here."
Silence.
Lyra didn't move.
Didn't react immediately.
Her expression didn't change much either.
But something in her eyes did.
"…Staying."
"Yes."
Amoriel nodded slightly.
"Since yesterday."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Lyra's grip on her bag tightened just a little.
"…I see."
From deeper inside the house, a door slid open.
Footsteps followed.
"…I'm done—"
Caelum's voice stopped the moment he stepped into view.
He looked from the hallway—
To the door—
To Lyra—
Then to Amoriel.
And froze.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Lyra didn't look at him right away.
Her gaze remained on Amoriel.
"…You didn't mention that."
Caelum rubbed his face with one hand.
"…I was going to."
"When."
"…Later."
She finally looked at him.
"Convenient."
"That's not what this is."
"Then what is it."
He hesitated.
That was enough.
Amoriel spoke again.
"We used the same bed."
Caelum turned instantly.
"Please don't say that out loud."
Lyra didn't react right away.
She just stood there.
Still.
Quiet.
Then—
"…You shared a bed."
Her voice was even.
Too even.
"It was just sleeping," Caelum said quickly.
"That is accurate," Amoriel added.
"That doesn't help."
A small silence settled between them.
The kind that didn't feel empty.
Just… heavy.
Lyra stepped inside without asking.
Her eyes moved once across the room.
The table.
The couch.
The small details.
Then back to them.
"…I came to check something."
Caelum frowned slightly.
"…What."
She looked at him.
Then at Amoriel.
"…I think I understand now."
"That's not—"
He stopped.
Because he didn't have a clean explanation.
Not one that would sound normal.
Lyra adjusted her grip on her bag.
"…You could have said something."
"I didn't think it would—"
"—matter?"
She finished it for him.
He didn't answer.
That was enough again.
Amoriel watched the exchange carefully.
"…There is a change in tone."
Caelum exhaled slowly.
"Please don't analyze this right now."
"I am observing."
Lyra let out a faint breath.
Not quite a sigh.
"…Of course you are."
Her gaze shifted once more.
Lingering for just a second.
Then she stepped back toward the door.
"…We're going to be late."
Caelum blinked.
"…You're still going to school with me?"
"I always do."
"…Right."
He grabbed his bag quickly, still trying to process everything at once.
Amoriel remained where she was.
Watching.
"Should I come as well?"
Both of them paused.
Lyra didn't turn back.
"…Do whatever you want."
Not angry.
Not loud.
Just quiet.
And somehow—
That made it harder to respond to.
Caelum glanced between them.
Then let out a small breath.
"…We're all going."
Amoriel nodded.
"Understood."
Lyra stepped outside.
This time, she didn't wait.
Caelum followed after a second.
Amoriel came last, closing the door behind her.
The morning air felt cooler than before.
Quieter.
But not calm.
Not anymore.
They walked in the same direction.
Like always.
But the space between them—
Had changed.