The journey began at dawn.
The air was colder outside the palace walls, sharper-like the world beyond didn't bother hiding its edges.
The carriage was large.
Dark.
Elegant.
And enclosed.
Too enclosed.
Lyra sat by the window, her gaze fixed outside as the scenery slowly shifted from stone paths to open land.
Across from her-
Kael.
Silent.
Still
Unreadable.
And beside him-
David.
Far too relaxed for someone traveling with royalty.
"...This is painfully quiet," David muttered, stretching slightly.
Lyra didn't respond. Kael didn't react.
David sighed dramatically.
"I missed this," he added.
Kael finally spoke. "You weren't here."
"Exactly," David smirked.
Lyra almost rolled her eyes.
Almost.
The carriage continued moving, the steady rhythm of the wheels filling the silence.
Hours passed,
The tension didn't.
Then-
The horses suddenly halted.
Hard.
Lyra's body jerked slightly with the movement.
"What-
Before she could finish-Kael was already on his feet.
"...Stay inside," he said.
Lyra frowned.
"I'm not-"
But he was already gone.
David stood next.
"...Well," he sighed, "this got interesting."
Lyra didn't hesitate this time.
She stepped out.
The air outside felt different.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Men surrounded the carriage.
Weapons drawn.
Faces covered.
Kael stood in front of them. Alone.
"...How predictable," he said calmly.
One of the men stepped forward.
"No need to make this difficult."
Kael didn't respond.
Didn't move.
Then-
Everything happened at once.
The first attacker lunged.
Fast
Deadly.
Kael moved faster
Lyra had seen him before..
But not like this.
This wasn't controlled.
Wasn't restrained.
This was instinct.
Pure
Ruthless.
He dodged effortlessly, grabbing the man's arm and twisting it sharply before striking him down in one clean motion.
Another came from behind-
Kael turned, striking before the blade could even touch him.
It was precise.
Efficient.
Terrifying.
Lyra stood frozen.
Watching.
This was what he truly was.
A predator
The fight didn't last long.
It never did.
Bodies hit the ground one by one.
Until
Only one remained.
Kael stood in front of him.
Unharmed.
Unshaken
The man dropped his weapon instantly, falling to
his knees.
"Please"
Lyra's breath slowed
Waiting.
"Who sent you? Kael asked
His voice calm,
Cold
The man trembled
-1 can't-
Kael stepped closer
Słow
Deliberate
"You can"
The man's voice broke.
have a family-please, I have children-"
Lyrs's chest tightened.
"Kael," she said quietly.
He didn't look at her.
"Say the name," Kael repeated
Silence
Then-
"...Lord Varis."
The air shifted
Kael stilled.
Just for a second.
Then-
He moved
Too fast.
The blade flashed-
And the man collapsed.
Silence followed.
Heavy
Still
Lyra stared.
Her chest tightening Her hands trembling slightly
"...You killed him."
Kael didn't respond.
Didn't look at her
"He told you," Lyra continued, her voice rising
slightly
"He begged you he has a family
Kael turned slowly
Finally looking at her.
"And?"
That one word-
Cold
Unmoved,
Something inside Lyra snapped.
"You're a monster."
The words came out sharp.
Unfiltered,
Kael's expression didn't change
But something in his eyes
Did
"A monster will always be a monster," she added.
Silence
Heavy
Dangerous.
David stepped forward immediately.
"...That's enough."
His voice
Unlike before.
sharp.
Lyra tumed to him,
"You saw that!"
"I did," David replied.
"And I also know what would've happened if he
let him go
Lyra's brows furtowed.
"He could've
"No," David cut in.
Firm
"That man would've retumed," he said. "With
more people. With better weapons. And next
time
He gestured slightly
"you wouldn't be standing here."
Lyra's breath hitched.
David's expression hardened slightly
"For someone who hates wolves so much," he
added, "you seem to forget the world you're in"
Silence.
Lyra didn't respond.
Couldn't
Because part of her-
Knew
But it didn't change what she felt
"That doesn't make it right," she said quietly.
Kael spoke then
Finally.
"It doesn't have to be."
His voice was calm again.
Flat.
Distant,
"I didn't do it to be right."
Lyra's chest tightened.
"Then what did you do it for?" she asked.
Kael held her gaze
"To survive"
Silence fell again.
But this time-
It wasn't just tension
It was something deeper
Something breaking.