The forest had grown darker.
Not because the sun had set-
But because they had gone too deep.
Lyra walked carefully beside Kael, her steps slower now because of her injured foot. The
makeshift bandage held, but every step still sent
a dull ache through her leg.
She didn't complain.
Of course she didn't.
Kael noticed anyway.
Of course he did.
"...You're slowing down," he said without looking
at her.
Lyra scoffed softly.
"And you're stating the obvious."
Kael's expression didn't change.
"Keep up."
Lyra's grip tightened slightly.
"I am."
A lie.
But he didn't call it out.
Not this time.
They walked in silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
The kind that pressed down instead of fading.
The bond between them flickered faintly-
unstable, but quieter than before. Not gone.
Just... waiting.
Lyra glanced at him once.
Just once.
"...You got lost too."
Kael didn't respond immediately.
Then-
"I didn't get lost."
Lyra almost smiled.
Almost.
"Right."
Silence again.
Then-
A sound.
Distant.
Faint.
But real.
Voices.
Kael stopped instantly.
His head tilted slightly, his senses sharpening.
"...Stay here," he said.
Lyra frowned.
"I'm not staying-
But before she could finish-
He was already moving.
Fast.
Disappearing into the trees.
Lyra's expression darkened..
"...Unbelievable."
She pushed herself forward anyway.
Ignoring his words.
Ignoring the pain.
Because she refused-
To be left behind.
Moments later-
The voices grew louder..
Clearer.
"Your Highness!"
"Over here!"
Relief.
Urgency.
Guards.
Kael stepped out from the shadows first.
Unharmed.
Untouched.
As if the forest had never affected him.
Lyra followed a second later.
Slower.
Noticeably.
The guards rushed forward immediately.
"We've been searching for hours," one of them said. "Are you injured?"
Kael didn't answer.
Didn't even acknowledge the concern.
Instead-
His gaze shifted briefly toward Lyra..
Then away.
"She is," he said coldly.
Lyra stiffened.
"I can speak for myself."
The guard looked between them, confused.
"Princess?"
Lyra straightened slightly despite the pain.
"It's nothing," she said. "Just a minor injury."
Kael's jaw tightened slightly.
But he didn't argue.
Didn't correct her.
Didn't care.
Or at least-
"We should return immediately," another guard
said. "The forest isn't safe this deep."
Kael nodded once.
"Move."
The order was sharp.
Instantly followed.
Horses were brought forward.
Lyra hesitated for a second.
Just a second.
Then-
She mounted.
Carefully.
Hiding the slight wince.
Kael noticed.
Of course.
But he said nothing.
The ride back was silent.
The forest slowly thinned, the tension easing with every step closer to the palace.
But something else replaced it.
Something heavier.
Unspoken.
Lyra kept her gaze forward.
Not looking at him.
Not acknowledging him.
Because if she did-
She might remember.
The way he helped her.
The way he-
No.
It didn't matter.
None of it did.
When they finally returned-
The palace was already waiting.
Servants rushed forward
Voices overlapping.
Concern.
Curiosity.
Noise.
Too much noise.
Lyra dismounted quickly, ignoring the offered
help.
"I'm fine," she said sharply.
Even though she wasn't.
Even though her foot throbbed with every step.
She walked forward-
And almost stumbled.
Just slightly.
Barely noticeable.
But Kael saw it.
Of course he did.
His hand twitched.
Just for a second.
Then stilled.
He didn't move.
Didn't help.
Didn't interfere.
Because-
She didn't want him to.
"Princess, you should see the healer-"
"I said I'm fine."
Her voice cut through the air.
Cold.
Final.
↓
The servants fell silent immediately.
Lyra didn't wait.
She walked past them.
Straight toward the palace.
Her steps slower now.
But steady.
Always steady.
Behind her-
Kael stood still
Watching.
↓
His expression unreadable.
"...Your Highness," one of the guards spoke carefully, "should we-"
"No."
The answer came instantly.
He turned away.
Without another word.
Without another glance.
That night-
The palace felt different.
Quieter.
Heavier.
Lyra sat on the edge of the bed, finally
unwrapping the cloth around her foot. The dried
blood made it stick slightly, and she winced as
she pulled it away.
"...Annoying."
She reached for fresh cloth, re-wrapping it tightly.
Her movements slower now.
More careful.
For a moment-
She paused.
Her fingers resting lightly against the fabric.
"...He didn't have to help."
The thought came uninvited
Unwanted.
She pushed it away instantly.
"It was the bond."
Of course it was.
Across the room-
Kael stood by the window again.
Silent.
Still.
Distant.
Like always.
But his gaze-
Wasn't outside.
It flickered.
Just once.
Toward her.
Then away.
"...Don't make it worse," he said suddenly.
Lyra looked up.
"...What?"
Kael didn't turn.
"Your injury," he said. "If it gets infected, it'll interfere with the bond again."
The words were cold.
Practical.
Detached.
Lyra stared at him for a second.
Then-
She let out a quiet breath.
"...Right."
Of course.
That's all it was.
Silence returned.
But this time-
It wasn't just distance.
It was something unfinished.
Something neither of them acknowledged.