The palace felt calmer.
Not quieter.
Not safer.
Just-
Less hostile.
Lyra noticed it first.
Not in the halls.
Not in the whispers.
But in him.
Kael wasn't avoiding her anymore.
Not completely.
He still kept his distance.
Still didn't linger.
Still didn't speak more than necessary.
But-
He didn't walk away the moment she entered a
room Didn't ignore her existence like before.
It was subtle..
Small.
But real.
Lyra stood in the courtyard, watching the late aftemoon light stretch across the stone floor.
Her foot had healed enough for her to walk normally now.
Almost
"You look less like you want to burn this place
down."
The voice came from behind her.
Unfamiliar.
Casual
Lyra turned
And blinked.
A man leaned against one of the pillars, arms crossed, watching her wah a faint, amused smile.
Dark hair.
Sharp eyes.
Too relaxed for someone in this palace.
"...Who are you?" she asked.
He pushed himself off the pillar, stepping closer.
"David," he said simply. "And you must be Lyra."
Lyra's gaze sharpened slightly.
"You say that like you already know me."
David smiled
"I know enough."
A pause.
Then-
"...You're the reason Kael looks like he hasn't slept properly in days."
Lyra frowned instantly.
"Excuse me?"
Before she could say anything else-Footsteps approached.
Familiar
Measured.
Kael.
His gaze landed on them immediately.
Sharp.
Alert.
"David"
The name came out like a warning.
David raised his hands slightly.
"Relax. I'm just talking."
Kael stepped closer, his presence instantly shifting the air.
"Don't."
David smirked slightly.
"Still the same, huh?"
Lyra looked between them.
"...You know each other."
"Unfortunately," Kael said.
David laughed.
"Best decision of his life, actually."
Kael ignored that.
His gaze flickered briefly to Lyra.
"...Is everything fine?"
The question was simple. But unexpected.
Lyra blinked.
"Yes"
A pause.
Then-
"Why wouldn't it be?"
Kael held her gaze for a second longer.
Like he was checking.
Making sure.
Then he nodded once.
"Good"
David watched the exchange.
Carefully
Quietly.
"...This is interesting," he murmured.
Kael shot him a look.
"Leave" he said
David sighed dramatically.
"Fine, fine."
He turned-
Then paused beside Lyra.
"You're not what I expected," he said quietly.
Lyra raised an eyebrow.
"And what did you expect?"
David's smile softened slightly.
Someone weaker."
Lyra didn't respond.
But her expression said enough.
David chuckled.
"I like you."
Kael's voice cut in instantly. "David."
"Alright, I'm going," he said, holding up his hands again before walking away.
Silence settled again.
Lyra turned back toward Kael.
"...Your friend talks too much."
Kael exhaled quietly.. "He always has."
A pause.
Then-
"You don't seem surprised."
Lyra tiited her head slightly.
"About what?"
"That I have someone like him."
Lyra studied him for a second.
Then-
"...You're not as predictable as you think."
Kael's gaze flickered slightly.
Not cold
Not sharp.
Just-
Thinking.
"...Neither are you."
The words were quiet.
But they lingered.
Lyra looked away first.
Of course she did.
"Your herbs," she said after a moment.
"...Did they work?"
Kael stilled slightly. Not expecting that.
Yes."
A pause.
Then-
For now.
Lyra nodded faintly.
"Good"
Silence again.
But this time-
It wasn't heavy.
↓
Kael stepped back slightly.
Not leaving.
Just-
Creating space.
"...You should avoid walking too much," he said.
"Your foot hasn't fully healed."
Lyra almost smiled.
Almost.
"...You're saying that again."
Kael didn't deny it.
"...And you're still ignoring it," he replied.
A small pause.
Then-
Lyra shifted slightly.
"Maybe."
Kael watched her for a moment.
Then-
"...Try not to."
Lyra didn't answer.
But she didn't argue either.
And somehow-
That said enough.