Darkness didn't feel empty.
It felt… quiet.
Like something was holding it together just long enough for her to rest.
Liora floated in it.
Not fully asleep.
Not fully aware.
Just… there.
And for once—
There was no voice.
No whisper.
No pressure clawing at her thoughts.
Just silence.
Peaceful.
Temporary.
"…Liora."
The voice came from far away.
Familiar.
Steady.
"…Liora."
Closer this time.
The darkness shifted.
Her consciousness pulled upward—
Slowly—
Reluctantly—
Until—
Her eyes opened.
The first thing she saw—
Was him.
Cairis.
Sitting beside her.
Still.
Watching.
Relief flickered across his face—
Subtle.
Gone almost as soon as it appeared.
"…You're awake."
Her throat felt dry.
Her voice came out soft.
"…That's usually how this works."
A pause.
Then—
"…You passed out."
"I noticed."
Her gaze drifted slightly.
Taking in the room.
Different again.
Not the training chamber.
Safer.
More guarded.
"…How bad was it this time?"
Silence.
Cairis didn't answer immediately.
Which—
Was already an answer.
Liora let out a quiet breath.
"…That bad, huh."
"You lost control."
"I figured."
She closed her eyes briefly.
"…Did I hurt anyone?"
"No."
Her eyes opened again.
"…Really?"
"Yes."
Something in her chest eased.
Just a little.
"…Good."
Because that—
That mattered more than anything else.
Silence settled between them.
Not uncomfortable.
But not easy either.
Just… there.
Like something waiting to be acknowledged.
Liora stared at the ceiling.
"…There was someone."
"Yes."
Her gaze shifted slightly toward him.
"…I wasn't imagining that?"
"No."
"Good."
A small pause.
"…That would've been worse."
Cairis watched her carefully.
"You fought him."
"I tried."
"You did more than that."
Liora let out a soft breath.
"…I almost lost control again."
"You didn't."
"I did."
Her voice was quieter this time.
Honest.
"I felt it."
That edge.
That pull.
That moment where everything could've gone wrong.
And she wouldn't have been able to stop it.
Her fingers curled slightly against the sheets.
"…What if next time I don't come back from it?"
Silence.
Cairis didn't answer immediately.
But when he did—
His voice was steady.
"…Then I'll bring you back."
She turned her head slightly.
Looking at him properly now.
"…That's not reassuring."
"It's not meant to be."
A small, tired smile touched her lips.
"…At least you're honest."
"Always."
Silence again.
But this time—
It softened slightly.
Not as tense.
Not as heavy.
After a moment, Liora spoke again.
"…You stayed."
It wasn't a question.
Cairis didn't look away.
"Yes."
"Why?"
That question—
That one carried more weight than the others.
Because she already knew part of the answer.
But she wanted to hear it.
Needed to.
Cairis was quiet for a second.
Then—
"…Because you needed someone here."
"That's not what I meant."
He knew.
Of course he did.
Silence stretched.
Then—
"…Because I wanted to."
There it was.
Simple.
Uncomplicated.
Honest.
Liora studied him for a long moment.
"…You're making this difficult."
"How?"
"I'm trying to keep my distance."
His expression didn't change.
"…You're not doing a very good job."
She exhaled softly.
"…Neither are you."
"No."
A pause.
"…I'm not."
And that—
That was the problem.
Because neither of them was walking away.
Even when they probably should.
Liora shifted slightly.
Sitting up more fully now.
Her body still felt weak.
But not completely drained.
"…The assassin."
Her voice steadied.
"What happened?"
Cairis's expression darkened slightly.
"He's gone."
"Dead?"
"…Erased."
Her brows furrowed.
"…That sounds worse."
"It is."
A pause.
"He said he wasn't sent."
Liora stilled.
"…What?"
"He had no orders."
"No reason?"
"None that made sense."
Silence.
Because that—
That was wrong.
In every possible way.
"No one just walks into the palace and attacks me for no reason."
"I know."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"…Then what was that?"
Cairis didn't answer.
Because he didn't have one.
And that—
That was the worst part.
Liora looked down at her hands.
Silver light flickered faintly.
Weak.
But present.
"…Things are getting worse."
"Yes."
"Faster than expected."
"Yes."
She let out a slow breath.
"…Great."
A pause.
Then—
"…I need to get stronger."
Cairis watched her carefully.
"You will."
"No."
Her voice sharpened slightly.
"Not like this."
Her fingers clenched.
"I'm reacting."
"I'm losing control every time something happens."
Her gaze lifted.
"…That's not good enough."
Silence.
Because she was right.
And they both knew it.
"I need to understand it."
Her voice steadied.
"Not just control it."
"Understand it."
"The source."
"The limits."
"The risks."
Her chest tightened slightly.
"…Before it decides everything for me."
Cairis nodded once.
"…Then we find answers."
"We?"
"Yes."
She hesitated again.
That word.
Still there.
Still complicated.
"…You're not going to leave, are you?"
"No."
Not even a second of hesitation.
Liora let out a quiet breath.
"…You're really persistent."
"I've been told that."
A faint smile flickered again.
Then faded.
"…Fine."
Not agreement.
Not forgiveness.
But not rejection either.
And somehow—
That felt like progress.
A knock came at the door.
Sharp.
Formal.
Cairis's expression shifted instantly.
Back to cold.
Controlled.
"…Enter."
The door opened.
A guard stepped in.
Head lowered.
"…Your Highness."
"What is it?"
The guard hesitated.
Then—
"…The council has requested another meeting."
Liora's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…Already?"
"That was fast."
Cairis's voice was colder now.
"What for?"
The guard swallowed.
"…They believe the attack confirms their concerns."
Of course they did.
Liora exhaled slowly.
"…Right."
The guard continued.
"…They're pushing for a final decision."
Silence.
The tension in the room shifted instantly.
Because this—
This was it.
No more waiting.
No more time.
The court had made up its mind.
Cairis stood slowly.
The air around him darkened slightly.
"…Tell them."
His voice dropped.
"I'll be there."
The guard bowed quickly.
Then left.
The door closed.
And the room fell silent again.
Liora looked at Cairis.
"…This is it, isn't it?"
"Yes."
Her chest tightened slightly.
"…They're going to try to get rid of me."
"Yes."
A pause.
"…And you're going to stop them."
"Yes."
Another pause.
Then—
"…This is how things start breaking."
Her voice was quiet.
Not afraid.
Just aware.
Cairis didn't respond.
Because he knew.
And he was ready for it.
Outside—
Vael stood in the corridor.
Watching the closed door.
His expression calm.
Interested.
"…Now it begins."
Because this time—
There would be no delays.
No hesitation.
No second chances.
Only decisions.
And consequences.