The room felt too small.
Too quiet.
Too real.
Liora hadn't moved since Vael left.
Not because she couldn't.
But because every time she tried—
Her thoughts dragged her back.
"I created you."
"You became something no one could control."
"I let it happen."
Her fingers curled slowly at her sides.
"…No."
The word came out weak.
Like she didn't fully believe it herself.
Because now—
Everything made sense.
In the worst possible way.
Her power.
The instability.
The way it reacted to her emotions.
The way it felt like it had a will of its own.
It wasn't just magic.
It was something designed.
Something shaped.
Something that had already gone wrong once before.
"…I wasn't special."
Her voice dropped.
"I was made."
The realization sat heavy in her chest.
Not comforting.
Not empowering.
Just… heavy.
Because it meant everything she had feared—
Was true.
She wasn't losing control for no reason.
She was built that way.
A weapon.
A solution.
A mistake.
Her breathing slowed.
But not from calm.
From exhaustion.
"…And now I have to fix it."
The words felt distant.
Like she was saying them for someone else.
But there was no one else.
Only her.
Only this.
Only what was coming.
Azhrael.
The seal.
The war.
Again.
Her hand lifted slightly.
Silver light flickered weakly.
"…I don't even know what I am."
"Then find out."
Liora froze.
Her head turned slowly.
Cairis stood at the doorway.
He hadn't knocked this time.
He hadn't waited.
And something about that—
Felt different.
Liora's expression didn't soften.
"…How long were you there?"
"Long enough."
Of course.
She let out a quiet breath.
"Did you hear everything?"
"Yes."
Silence.
No denial.
No hesitation.
Just truth.
"…Good."
Her voice was flat.
"Then I don't have to explain."
Cairis stepped into the room.
The door closed behind him.
"I already knew."
That made her pause.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…What?"
"About Vael."
Silence.
"…You knew?"
"Yes."
"And you didn't think that was important to mention?"
His expression didn't change.
"It wouldn't have changed anything."
"That's not your decision to make."
"No."
He didn't argue.
"But it wouldn't have."
The calmness in his voice—
It frustrated her more than if he had fought back.
"…He said he created this power."
"He did."
Her chest tightened again.
"You're just okay with that?"
"No."
"Then why—"
"Because it doesn't change what you are now."
The words landed differently than she expected.
Not dismissive.
Not cold.
Just… certain.
Liora stared at him.
"…And what exactly am I now?"
Cairis didn't hesitate.
"…You."
Silence.
That answer—
It wasn't what she expected.
It wasn't complicated.
It wasn't philosophical.
It was simple.
And somehow—
That made it harder to reject.
"You don't get it," she said quietly.
"Yes, I do."
"No, you don't."
Her voice sharpened slightly.
"I wasn't born with this."
"I wasn't chosen."
"I was made."
The silver light flickered again.
Stronger this time.
Agitated.
Unsteady.
"I'm literally someone else's mistake."
Cairis stepped closer.
"That doesn't define you."
"It defined what I became."
Her chest tightened.
"It defined how I died."
Silence.
That one—
That one hit deeper.
But Cairis didn't look away.
"…And yet you're still here."
Liora stilled slightly.
Her breathing slowed.
"…That doesn't mean anything."
"It means everything."
He stopped in front of her.
Close.
Not touching.
But close enough to feel the tension between them again.
"You're not the same person."
"I have her memories."
"But you have your choices."
Silence.
Because that—
That was harder to argue with.
Liora looked down slightly.
"…And what if I make the same ones?"
Cairis didn't hesitate.
"Then I'll stop you."
There it was again.
The truth.
Unchanged.
Unfiltered.
And yet—
This time—
It didn't hurt the same way.
Not as sharp.
Not as immediate.
Because now—
She understood more.
"…You really don't know how to say comforting things, do you?"
A faint flicker of something crossed his expression.
"…No."
She let out a small breath.
"…At least you're consistent."
Silence settled again.
But this time—
It wasn't as heavy.
Still tense.
Still uncertain.
But not completely broken.
After a moment, Cairis spoke again.
"The palace is turning."
Liora's expression shifted immediately.
"…That was fast."
"They saw what happened."
Her chest tightened slightly.
"…Of course they did."
"They're afraid."
"They should be."
The words came out before she could stop them.
And that—
That scared her more than anything else.
Because a part of her meant it.
Cairis noticed.
Of course he did.
But he didn't comment on it.
"They're pushing for action."
"What kind of action?"
Silence.
Then—
"…Removing you."
The room went still.
Liora's lips pressed into a thin line.
"…Exile?"
"That's the best-case scenario."
Her chest tightened again.
"And the worst?"
Cairis's voice dropped.
"…Execution."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Liora nodded slowly.
"…Right."
"That won't happen."
"You sound very sure."
"I am."
"And if they don't listen to you?"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…Then they'll have a bigger problem than you."
That—
That was dangerous.
Not just for the palace.
For everything.
Liora studied him carefully.
"…You're willing to go that far."
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Just truth.
And somehow—
That made things even more complicated.
"…You shouldn't."
"I will."
Silence.
Because neither of them was going to change their mind.
After a moment, Liora looked away.
"…This is exactly how things start going wrong."
"What do you mean?"
Her voice softened slightly.
"People choosing sides."
"People thinking they're doing the right thing."
Her chest tightened.
"…And then everything falls apart."
Cairis didn't respond.
Because he knew she wasn't wrong.
Liora exhaled slowly.
"…I don't want a war inside the palace because of me."
"Then what do you want?"
Silence.
She didn't answer immediately.
Because the truth—
Was complicated.
"…I want control."
Her voice was quiet.
"But real control."
"Not the kind that breaks the moment I feel something."
The silver light flickered faintly again.
More stable than before.
But still not enough.
"I want to know exactly what I am."
Her gaze lifted to meet his.
"…Before anyone decides what to do with me."
Cairis studied her for a moment.
Then nodded slightly.
"…Then we find out."
"We?"
"Yes."
She hesitated.
Just for a second.
Because that word—
Still meant something.
Even now.
"…I thought I said I needed space."
"You did."
"And?"
"I'm not leaving you alone to deal with this."
Silence.
Liora let out a quiet breath.
"…You're impossible."
"I've been told that."
A faint, almost-smile tugged at her lips.
Then disappeared just as quickly.
"…Fine."
Not agreement.
Not trust.
But not rejection either.
And right now—
That was enough.
Outside the chamber—
The palace whispered.
Nobles gathered.
Plans formed.
Fear spread.
And in the shadows—
Vael watched it all unfold.
His expression calm.
Satisfied.
"…Perfect."
Because the more they feared her—
The closer they got to repeating the past.
And this time—
He intended to see it through to the end.