The room remained quiet.
But not empty
Not tense:
Just... full.
Of something neither of them quite understood.
Kael was still holding the child.
More steadily now.
More naturally.
The earlier stiffness in his posture had eased,
replaced by a careful confidence-like he had realized the fragile life in his arms wasn't as breakable as he feared. Still delicate.
Still small.
But not something that would shatter at a single wrong move.
Lyra hadn't moved.
Not since that moment.
Not since she saw him smile.
It stayed in her mind.
Clear
Unshaken.
She didn't know what unsettled her more-The fact that he had smiled...
Or the fact that it hadn't felt wrong.
*You're staring again."
Kael's voice broke the silence.
Low
Calm.
But this time-
There was something else beneath it.
Something lighter.
Lyra blinked, immediately looking away
"I'm not."
Kael didn't argue
Didn't push.
But there was the faintest shift in his expression.
Almost like
He didn't mind.
Aerith watched the exchange quietly, her gaze
soft, knowing
Then-
Without warning-
She reached forward.
"Your tum."
Lyra froze.
"...What?"
Aerith smiled gently as she gestured toward the baby. "Hold him."
Lyra didn't move
Didn't even pretend to consider it.
"No."
Kael almost fet out a breath that sounded
suspiciously like a quiet laugh.
Lyra shot him a look.
Don't
Kael raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I didn't say anything"
"You didn't have to."
Aerith sighed softly, amused.
"You sound exactly like him earlier"
Lyra crossed her arms.
"I'm not holding him."
"Why not?"
Lyra hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then
"I might hurt him."
The words came quieter than expected.
Less defensive.
More honest
Kael's expression shifted slightly
Subtle
But real
"...You won't."
Lyra looked at him.
You said the same thing."
"And I was wrong," Kael replied simply.
Lyra blinked.
Not expecting that.
Kael stepped closer
Still holding the child carefully as he stood in
front of her
"...He's not as fragile as he looks," he added.
Lyra's gaze dropped to the baby.
Her hesitation still clear.
"...I don't think that's reassuring."
Kael didn't argue
Instead-
He lowered himself slightly, bringing the child
closer
Not forcing.
Not rushing
Just... offering.
Lyra's hands remained at her sides.
Still
Unmoving.
"...Support his head" Kael said quietly.
The words were familiar now.
Echoing what Aerith had said to him.
Lyra hesitated.
Then-
Slowly-
She moved
Her hands lifted carefully, uncertain, hovering for
just a moment before finally taking the weight
from him.
The baby shifted slightly as he changed arms
And just like Kael before-
Lyra froze
Completely.
Her shoulders stiffened.
Her breath slowed.
Like she was afraid even the smallest movement
would disturb him.
"...I'm holding him," she whispered.
Kael watched her.
Closely.
"Yes," he said softly. "You are."
Lyra didn't look at him.
Her gaze fixed entirely on the child in her arms.
The baby made a small sound, his tiny fingers curling slightly as he settled.
Lyra's grip tightened instinctively.
Not too much.
Just enough.
"...He's warm," she said quietly.
Aerith smiled.
"He is."
Lyra shifted slightly, adjusting her hold just as Kael had done moments before. Careful.
Awkward.
But trying.
And Kael-
Watched everything.
The way her expression softened.
The way her shoulders slowly relaxed.
The way her grip, though cautious, became steadier with each passing second.
It was subtle. Barely noticeable.
But it was there.
"...He's lighter than I thought," Lyra added.
Kael almost smiled again.
Almost.
"That's what I said."
Lyra glanced at him briefly. "..Don't copy me."
"I said it first."
"No, you didn't."
Aerith laughed softly. And for a moment-Everything felt... normal.
Lyra looked back down at the baby.
Her fingers adjusting slightly as she grew more comfortable holding him.
"...What's his name?" she asked quietly.
Aerith's expression softened even more.
"...Eryx."
Lyra nodded faintly.
"...It suits him."
Kael watched her. Still. Silent.
Because something about this moment-Didn't feel temporary.
Didn't feel forced.
It felt...
Real.
Lyra lifted her gaze slightly. And for a brief second-Their eyes met.
No anger.
No sharp words.
No distance.
Just something quiet. Unspoken.
Then-
Lyra looked away first.. Of course she did.
But this time-
Kael didn't.