Chapter 9 – The Wound That Taught Her
1391 Words
Chapter 9 – The Wound That Taught Her
Lyra woke slowly.
Not too cold.
Not to pain.
But to silence.
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Her eyes opened to the same room as before—the dim light, the heavy curtains, the quiet air that felt almost… protected.
For a moment, she didn’t move.
Didn’t think.
Didn’t remember.
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Then it all came back.
The attack.
The running.
Kael.
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Her body tensed instinctively.
She sat up too fast—
And froze.
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No pain.
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Her brows furrowed.
“…What…?”
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Lyra’s hand moved to her side.
The injury.
The place that had hurt so badly just hours ago.
Her fingers pressed against it.
Carefully.
Testing.
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Nothing.
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No sharp sting.
No dull ache.
No wound.
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Gone.
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Her breath caught.
“…That’s impossible…”
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She pulled her sleeve up.
Checked her arm.
Her skin.
Everywhere.
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Nothing.
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Every injury.
Every bruise.
Every trace of what had happened—
Gone.
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Lyra’s fingers trembled.
“…It healed again…”
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But this time—
It wasn’t small.
It wasn’t a scratch.
It wasn’t something she could ignore.
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This was real.
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Her chest tightened.
“…What am I…?”
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“You’re awake.”
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Lyra flinched.
Her head snapped toward the voice.
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Kael.
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He stood near the window again, exactly where he had been before as if he hadn’t moved at all.
Watching.
Always watching.
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Lyra swallowed.
“…How long…?”
“…A few hours.”
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She nodded slowly.
Then hesitated.
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“…My injuries…”
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Kael’s gaze shifted to her.
Sharp.
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“…Gone,” he said.
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Not surprised.
Not questioning.
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Lyra’s stomach twisted.
“…You knew…?”
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“…I suspected.”
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Silence.
---
Her fingers clenched slightly.
“…This isn’t normal…”
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“…No,” Kael said calmly.
“It’s not.”
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That simple agreement made it worse.
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Lyra looked down again.
“…I didn’t do anything…”
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Kael stepped closer.
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Lyra stiffened instinctively.
---
But this time—
She didn’t pull away.
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“…Your body reacts,” he said.
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“…To what…?”
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A pause.
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“…To something.”
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That wasn’t an answer.
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But it was the truth.
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Lyra let out a shaky breath.
“…That’s not helpful…”
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“…You’re still alive,” Kael replied.
“…That’s more than helpful.”
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She didn’t argue.
Because she couldn’t.
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Silence settled again.
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Then—
Kael’s gaze shifted.
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“…Stand.”
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Lyra blinked.
“…What?”
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“…Stand.”
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His tone didn’t change.
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Lyra hesitated.
Then—
Slowly—
She moved.
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Her feet touched the ground.
Her legs trembled slightly—
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But held.
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Lyra’s eyes widened.
“…I can stand…”
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No pain.
No weakness.
No collapse.
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Just—
Normal.
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Kael watched her carefully.
“…Move.”
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She took a step.
Then another.
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Still nothing.
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Her breath quickened.
“…It’s like it never happened…”
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“…That’s the problem.”
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Lyra stopped.
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“…What do you mean?”
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Kael’s gaze darkened slightly.
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“…If others see this…”
A pause.
“…they won’t let you live.”
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Her heart dropped.
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“…I know…”
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She already did.
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Which meant—
She had to hide it.
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Even from herself.
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Kael turned away slightly.
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“…You’ll return to your duties.”
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Lyra blinked.
“…Just like that?”
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“…Yes.”
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Her lips parted slightly.
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“…After everything…?”
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Kael looked at her again.
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“…Do you want attention?”
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She froze.
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“…No.”
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“…Then go.”
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Lyra nodded slowly.
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Of course.
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Nothing changed.
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Except everything did.
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The halls of the academy felt different now.
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Lyra walked carefully, her head lowered as always.
But her senses—
We're sharper.
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She could feel it.
The magic.
Flowing.
Moving.
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Watching.
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“…What is this…?” she whispered.
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Then—
She felt something else.
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Different.
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Heavy.
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Her steps faltered.
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A strange pressure settled over her body.
Sudden.
Crushing.
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Her breath caught.
“…what…?”
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Her legs weakened.
Her vision blurred slightly.
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Pain.
Not from injury.
But from something deeper.
---
She turned her head.
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And saw it.
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A group of noble students stood nearby.
Laughing.
Talking.
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One of them held something in her hand.
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A crystal.
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Small.
Jagged.
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Glowing faintly—
Purple.
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Lyra’s chest tightened instantly.
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Her body reacted.
Violently.
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“…I can’t breathe…”
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Her knees buckled slightly.
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No.
No—
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She forced herself to move.
Away.
Faster.
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The moment she created distance—
The pressure faded.
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Lyra stumbled forward, catching herself against the wall.
Her breathing uneven.
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“…What was that…?”
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Her eyes trembled.
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That thing—
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It weakened her.
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Not like before.
Not like pain.
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Something deeper.
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Something dangerous.
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“…I need to avoid it…”
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The realization hit instantly.
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For the first time—
She wasn’t just different.
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She was vulnerable.
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Across the upper halls—
Laughter echoed.
Soft.
Elegant.
Cruel.
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“She was with him.”
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A girl stood by the window, her posture perfect, her expression calm—but her eyes sharp.
Obsessive.
Cold.
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“…Are you sure?”
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“…I saw it.”
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The girl’s fingers tightened slightly around the teacup in her hand.
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“…Kael doesn’t involve himself with trash.”
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“But he did.”
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Silence.
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Then—
A faint smile.
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“…Interesting.”
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Her gaze shifted toward the courtyard below.
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“…Then she’s a problem.”
---
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Back in the kitchen—
Lyra returned to her place.
Quiet.
Invisible.
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But this time—
Eyes followed her.
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Whispers started.
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“Isn’t that her?”
“The servant?”
“Why does she look fine?”
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Lyra kept her head down.
Ignored everything.
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But the tension—
Was rising.
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“Careful.”
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The voice came from behind her.
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Lyra turned slightly.
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A girl stood there.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Smiling.
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But her eyes—
Were wrong.
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“…You shouldn’t stand out,” the girl said softly.
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Lyra’s chest tightened.
“…I don’t…”
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“Oh, but you do.”
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The smile widened slightly.
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“…And Kael doesn’t like things that attract attention.”
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A lie.
Or maybe not.
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Lyra didn’t know.
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“…I’ll be careful,” she said quietly.
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The girl tilted her head.
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“…You should be.”
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Then—
She stepped closer.
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Too close.
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And from her sleeve—
A faint purple glow flickered.
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Lyra’s breath hitched instantly.
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Not again—
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The pressure slammed into her.
Stronger this time.
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Her body weakened.
Her knees trembled.
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“…what… is that…”
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The girl smiled.
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“…You look pale.”
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Lyra’s vision blurred.
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“…stay away…”
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“…Oh?”
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The girl’s eyes gleamed.
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“…So you can feel it.”
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Lyra’s heart dropped.
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She knows.
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“…How interesting.”
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The girl stepped back.
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The pressure disappeared instantly.
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Lyra gasped for air.
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“…You’re hiding something,” the girl whispered.
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A pause.
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“…And I’ll find out what.”
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She turned.
Walking away.
Graceful.
Untouchable.
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Leaving Lyra shaking where she stood.
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Her fingers trembled.
Her breathing uneven.
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“…This is bad…”
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Very bad.
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Because now—
It wasn’t just one enemy.
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There were many.
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And they were watching.
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From above—
Kael stood in silence.
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His gaze fixed downward.
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Watching everything.
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“…So it’s started.”
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His expression darkened slightly.
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“…Troublesome.”
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But he didn’t look away.
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Not from her.
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Not anymore.
- Writer
