Moonlight fell across Kael’s face as he slowly opened his eyes. He stared into the darkness of the small, silent room for a moment, giving his mind time to catch up with reality.

  His gaze drifted to the two figures sleeping on the floor opposite him. He exhaled quietly, his expression softening.

  So, we managed to save them. I’m glad. Truly.

  Then, his hand moved to his temple, and his face tightened in pain.

  I allowed my emotions to control me again. Even in battle.

  He looked up at the ceiling.

  Why can’t I just let go?

  From the corner of his eye, he saw Astra standing by the broken window frame. She leaned slightly forward, watching the star-filled sky with calm, distant eyes.

  He pushed himself up, walked over, and rested beside her against the wall. He followed her gaze into the night.

  She glanced at him briefly, then looked back outside.

  "I'm sorry," Kael said after a while, exhaling slowly.

  Astra turned her head slightly, silently asking what he was sorry for.

  "I'm nothing but a burden to you now," he continued quietly. "Because of me, we're stuck here. We can’t continue our journey as planned. You would be better off without me.”

  The last words barely left his lips.

  He tilted his head back, his eyes distant.

  “I know it was an accident. I didn’t mean to kill him.”

  His hands slid behind his head, his fingers gripping tightly.

  “But no matter what I do, I see him.”

  His voice lowered.

  “In battle, I see his body on the ground. His empty eyes stare through me.”

  He swallowed.

  "And when things are quiet, I see his grin. I hear his stupid jokes.”

  A weak, sad smile crossed his face.

  “I don’t know which hurts more.”

  Astra said nothing, watching him from the corner of her eye.

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  "You were right," she said eventually.

  Kael looked at her, surprised.

  Her gaze softened as she briefly looked at the two siblings sleeping together on the floor.

  "That girl has already suffered enough. It was right to save her."

  She sighed, and regret flickered across her face.

  "I’ve been obsessed with this mission for as long as I can remember. I was so obsessed that I stopped seeing life itself. People stopped mattering to me.”

  Her voice was steady. Honest. Harsh.

  "I always tell myself I'm doing this to help humanity."

  She shook her head slightly.

  "But that's just an excuse."

  The words didn’t shock Kael. He had always known her motivations were different from those of the Unspoken. He just never pushed her to explain.

  She met his eyes again.

  "But you reminded me that helping people matters."

  Her voice softened.

  "The warmth. The gratitude you get in return...it's worth it."

  She gave him a small smile.

  "So, thank you. For reminding me that warmth is worth protecting.”

  Her smile caught him off guard. He quickly looked away and scratched his cheek awkwardly.

  Astra let out a quiet laugh.

  For a moment, despite everything that had happened, they both felt it—that they were still partners.

  Kael realized something then.

  Moments like this...

  Moments with her were the only times he truly felt at peace.

  “What do we do now?” Kael asked, turning back to her.

  Astra’s expression grew serious as she looked toward the distant outline of the city.

  "I don't regret it," she said quietly. "But you were right. This complicates our plans.”

  She folded her arms loosely.

  "People here sometimes die at night. Creatures— Predators. It happens."

  Her voice hardened.

  "But those three men were killed cleanly. Precisely. By a blade."

  She shrugged faintly.

  "That means it was done by humans. I’m certain they’re already searching the city. It's only a matter of time before they search every house and every alley. Every alley.”

  Her expression darkened, her eyes reflecting the depth of the night sky above them.

  "They've probably already informed the capital. I doubt they’ll connect it to us immediately, but three dead guards is serious enough.”

  She exhaled slowly.

  "They'll send knights of the Order. And if that happens...”

  Her voice dropped.

  "Our chances of escaping will be zero."

  She turned fully toward him.

  "That means we have to leave by tomorrow night. At the latest."

  Kael studied the landscape beyond the broken window, taking in the distant mountains rising like sleeping giants beneath the sky.

  “Couldn’t we go west from here?” he asked. “The wall separating the city from the north can’t extend forever.”

  She shook her head.

  "It would take too long. The mountain cold will soon become lethal. If we leave now, we might survive the crossing. If we detour...”

  She sighed.

  "It's impossible."

  Her gaze drifted back into the house, and concern flickered across her face.

  "And then there's the other problem. What do we do about them?” she asked quietly. "We can't leave them here. But we can’t take them with us, either.”

  Kael followed her gaze. His eyes lingered longer on the girl.

  There was something about her.

  Something he couldn’t explain.

  Astra noticed and looked back at him.

  "She calmed you yesterday," she said softly. "She's...special."

  Kael thought he heard regret in her voice, but he turned away before he could process it. He walked to the broken table in the center of the room and picked up his sword.

  He looked down at his reflection on the blade.

  The face staring back at him looked afraid.

  Is that really me?

  He brushed his fingers across the metal as if trying to smooth the fear from the reflection.

  Footsteps approached beside him. Astra gently took the sword from his hands.

  "No more fighting tonight," she said quietly. "Let tomorrow's versions of us carry tomorrow's fears."

  Kael looked at her, then let out a quiet laugh and nodded.

  Together, they returned to the window and leaned side by side, silently watching the last moments of the night fade away.

  Alone.

  But together.