The fireworks faded slowly.
One by one-
The bursts of light that had painted the sky began to disappear, leaving behind only faint traces of smoke drifting into the night.
The laughter around them softened.
The crowd thinned. And the world-Returned to quiet.
Lyra's gaze lingered on the sky for a moment longer, as if trying to hold onto the last bit of color before it vanished completely.
"...It's over," she murmured softly.
Beside her-
Kael said nothing.
Because he wasn't looking at the sky anymore.
He was looking at her.
The way her eyes still carried that light.
The way her expression hadn't fully returned to its usual guarded calm.
Then-
Slowly-
She moved.
Her hand slipped from his.
Just like that.
No hesitation.
No realization.
Like it had never been there to begin with.
Kael stilled.
His hand remained where it was for a second
longer-
Fingers slightly curled.
Empty.
The absence hit before the thought did.
Warmth-
Kael didn't answer immediately.
His gaze flickered once more-To his hand.
Then-Back to her.
"...Yes."
They began walking again..
↓
This time-
With distance between them.
Not forced.
Not deliberate.
But noticeable.
David walked behind them, his gaze shifting between the two with far too much awareness.
"...That was progress," he muttered under his
breath.
Elira glanced at him.
"...You talk to yourself often?"
"Only when I witness something important."
"And what exactly was important?"
David smiled slightly. "...You'll see."
Elira didn't ask further. But her curiosity didn't fade.
Ahead-Lyra walked quietly. Her thoughts slower now. Quieter.
She didn't think about the hand. Didn't replay the moment.
But something felt... Different.
Not wrong.
Just... Unfamiliar.
She glanced slightly to the side.
Kael was walking beside her again.
Close. But not too close.
His expression was calm. Unreadable. Like always.
But his hand-
Remained slightly clenched.
And he didn't know why.
Because it wasn't the bond. Wasn't the curse. Wasn't instinct.
It was something else.
Something quieter.
Something that didn't demand.
Didn't force.
But stayed.
Lingering.
Like the warmth of a hand that had already let go
Gone.
His gaze dropped.
Slowly.
To his hand.
The same hand she had held without thinking.
Without asking. Without pulling away.
Now-
It felt different.
Not cold.
But... lacking.
Kael flexed his fingers slightly.
As if testing something.
As if trying to understand why the warmth still lingered against his skin.
It didn't make sense.
It was nothing.
Just a brief moment.
A simple action.
And yet-
"...Kael?"
Lyra's voice pulled him back.
He looked up.
She was already a few steps ahead, her expression calm again, though softer than
before.
"...We should go back," she said.