"Check," I said with a grin.
Onnie laughed softly and slid her bishop. "Check."
I leaned forward and studied the board. My hand scratched the back of my head as I scanned the pieces again... There were options. I could feel it. My eyes flicked to the left side of the board, and I saw it. There it was.. An opening!
I moved my knight with precision. "Checkmate."
Onnie's brows lifted. "Wh-?"
"Yeah!" I laughed, leaning back proudly. "I beat you again. Six to five, right?"
She blinked, then let out a small laugh as she began resetting the board. "Wow. You've improved. Were you practicing behind my back?" Her eyes narrowed with a playful smile.
"Hah! You noticed?" I chuckled, helping her arrange the pieces.
Three months had already passed since we first met, and our bond had only grown stronger. We'd spent countless hours talking, learning, and, of course, playing chess.
Still, it was a surprise to outpace her, even once. Though I had help, every night at home, I practiced with my father. When I first asked Thorskil to play chess, he looked skeptical. Then he dug out an old, dusty board from a storage chest in my parents' room. From that night on, he taught me the basics and walked me through strategy after strategy. Little by little, I was applying everything he showed me.
As we began a new game, the wind rustled through the trees and stirred our hair.
I hummed thoughtfully. "Do you have any other spells you could teach me?"
Onnie paused, her fingers hovering over a pawn. "I'm sorry... Healing and Geo Push are the only ones I know."
She lowered her head slightly. "Sorry."
I raised a brow. "Why are you apologizing?" I nudged a bishop forward. "You've already taught me so much. I should be thanking you, y'know?"
Her smile came slowly, but it was genuine. "Well... I suppose so." She moved her knight.
I pushed a pawn.
She followed with her bishop.
I observed the board for a second before castling my rook.
She responded with her queen.
The board shifted into a new shape, but my focus wavered as I glanced at her outfit.
She always wore a white dress whenever we met.. but not the same one. Every time, it was a different cut, a different fabric. Sometimes she wore thin gloves, sometimes she didn't. They were elegant. Carefully chosen.
She didn't dress like someone who lived alone in the woods. In fact, she looked like... a noble. Maybe even something higher. And that name Freyharp.. It sounded, (again) noble. Powerful. Like someone very Important.
I turned toward her, hesitating for a moment before speaking.
"Say... we've known each other for three months now, but I've never actually seen where you live."
Onnie moved her rook, then looked up at me, her head tilting slightly as she hummed.
"And your dresses," I added. "You never wear the same one twice. It's kind of strange."
Onnie paused, her hand still resting near her rook.
"I just live nearby," she said softly. "It's nothing special."
I tilted my head. "Really? You've never shown me."
She didn't meet my face, she kept her head focused on the board. "Maybe one day."
Her voice was quiet. Not cold, but closed.
I got the message. So I nodded. "Alright." And we returned to the board.
Our conversation faded into silence as the pieces clicked into place. The game carried on, steady and calm, until the sky began to dim into soft purples and golds.
Eventually, we stood up.
"I guess that's it for today," I said, brushing off my knees.
"Yeah," she smiled. "Thanks for the game. You've improved quite a lot."
We exchanged a short wave before parting. She disappeared into the trees, quiet as ever.
I lingered for a moment, then turned and made my way home.
***
Back at the house, it was evening, the smell of stew wafted through the air, and my father and I sat by the hearth, a chessboard between us. He leaned back in his chair, humming as he studied the board with that thoughtful expression he always wore.
When suddenly...
"I declare my birth month starts tomorrow!" Lyra's voice rang like a bell as she marched into the room dramatically, arms spread wide.
I groaned as she reached for my side of the board, plucking up my queen like a thief.
"Hey! Don't touch that!"
She giggled and plopped it down onto Father's side. "Hah! You lost! Papa wins!" she declared proudly.
"Lyra!" I snatched the queen back. "We're in the middle of a serious match!"
She stuck out her tongue. "Mwehehe! Too slow!" Then she skipped off down the hall.
Thorskil chuckled. "She's already in celebration mode."
I rolled my eyes, fixing the board. But I wasn't really focused anymore.
My thoughts drifted.. And I kept thinking of Onnie. Three months and I still knew next to nothing about her. She never talked about her home. Never let me walk with her past the edge of the clearing. And those dresses... they weren't handmade. They were tailored. Was she a noble? A runaway? Something else?
The strange part was, even now, thinking about her made me feel... weird. Not bad. Not wrong. Just... weird. I was a 47-year-old man named Paul inside this small body. And she was just a girl. A kind one. A strange one. And my first real friend. There wasn't anything romantic or anything erotic about my thoughts of her. Of course not. But still... I didn't understand her, and that tugged at something in my chest.
Maybe it was time. I looked down at the chessboard.
"Maybe I should invite her," I muttered.
"Hm?" Father asked, eyes still on the board as he moved a knight.
"For Lyra's birth month," I said. "There's someone I want to bring."
A short silence followed. Then he leaned forward with a sly look.
"You finally going to introduce that girl you've been sneaking off to see?"
My eyes widened. "W-what? You knew?"
"Of course I knew." He leaned back, smiling. "Ever since the bandit scare, I make sure both of you get home safe. Every time. I've seen you leave the yard and come back, always at the same hour."
I buried my face in my palm. "Then why didn't you stop Mom from spanking me for being late sometimes? That's messed up."
He gave a deep, amused chuckle as he moved a pawn. "Getting spanked is part of growing up. Builds character."
"Character my butt," I grumbled, slamming my bishop forward. "You could've said something."
"Anyway," he said, ignoring me as he leaned in again with a teasing grin. "Who is she? Your girlfriend?"
"What? No!" I groaned. "She's just a friend, Dad. Her name's Onnie."
"Onnie, huh? That's a sweet name." He moved his knight, thoughtful now. "You could've introduced her to your mother. She'd love to meet your first real friend."
"Yeah, well..." I slid a pawn forward. "I kinda promised Onnie I wouldn't tell anyone about her."
Father raised his brows. "So you broke a promise?"
"Please." I rolled my eyes. "What's the point of a secret if the person already knows?"
He chuckled again, eyes twinkling as he advanced his bishop. "Relax, son. I'm just teasing you. Oh, by the way, your rook's wide open."
"I see it." I moved my knight to cover the gap, then sighed. "It's just... I've known her for three months, but I still don't really know her. Not really. She never talks about where she lives. Says it's 'in the woods,' but come on. You've walked those woods, right? Ever seen a house out there?"
Thorskil paused, then moved his queen and took one of my pawns. "I've lived in Ytval long before you were born. And no, there's nothing out there. No homes, no cottages, not even ruins."
His words hit heavier than I expected. I leaned back, staring at the board. "So she's been lying."
"Maybe," he said calmly. "Or maybe she just has her reasons."
"I don't get it." I captured his knight with my bishop. "She's my first real friend, but sometimes it feels like she's a stranger. I want to know more about her, but it's like there's a wall between us."
Thorskil stopped for a second, then smiled softly. "It'll come with time, son. You've got plenty of it. Trust is slow. And you... you're only six. You've already got more patience and thought in you than Lyra did at nine."
I chuckled. "She might punch you if she heard that."
"Probably." He laughed. "But the point stands. Let things unfold naturally. People open up when they're ready. Let her know she's welcome, and maybe she'll show you who she really is."
I looked at him. His voice carried something warm-solid. Not forced or wise for the sake of sounding it. Just... true.
"Thanks, Dad," I said quietly. He wasn't like my father from before. Not even close. And somehow, I felt thankful for that.
"No problem, son," he replied, eyes flicking back to the board. Then, with a grin, he slid his bishop forward. "By the way, I just took your queen."
I blinked, eyes darting to the board. My heart sank. "You sneaky ratbag."
He burst out laughing. I sighed as I ate his bishop. Then a thought crossed my head:
On second thought.. She doesn't want people to know about her, so pretty much she'd say no. I ended up deciding not to invite her.
***
Tomorrow arrived faster than I expected.
I woke up to the soft orange glow of morning and began my daily routine. After helping with the chores, feeding the animals, and watering the plants, I spent a while practicing magic in the backyard, quietly focusing my mana the way Onnie had taught me.
When the sun reached its highest point and lunch settled in my belly, I told Mother and Father I'd be heading out. They smiled and waved as usual, neither surprised nor worried.
The familiar dirt path crunched beneath my boots as I made my way up the hill. The grass shimmered under the summer light, and a gentle breeze moved through the trees like whispered secrets.
And there she was, standing beneath our tree-waiting, just like always.
"Hey," I said, smiling.
She turned around, her white dress fluttering as she smiled back. "Hey."
We sat in our usual spot, letting the quiet settle in around us like an old friend.
But then, Onnie stiffened. Her ears twitched slightly.
A soft crack. A twig snapped.
She turned her head. "Wait... I feel like someone's near. Let me focus for a second..."
"What focus?" said a voice, sharp and playful.
That voice.
"Wha-?!"
Onnie jolted upright as a figure appeared right beside her.
Lyra..?!
Onnie's eyes widened in shock. "W-what... what just happened?" She looked genuinely confused, glancing around as if trying to sense what was already standing beside her.
"Lyra, what are you doing here?!" I shot up.
Lyra smirked, hands behind her back. "So this is the reason why you keep running off every afternoon, huh?" She raised a brow and turned to Onnie. "You could've introduced her to us, you know."
My eyes caught a glint of something bright on her hand. I squinted.
"What's that on your finger?" I asked.
Lyra lifted her hand proudly. "This? Oh! It's the ring Father gave me as an early gift for my birth month. Pretty, right?"
"Yeah... It's really shiny."
Onnie leaned close and whispered, "Kyro... who is she?"
I cleared my throat. "That's my older sister. Her name's Lyra."
"Yoohoo!" Lyra waved with a big grin. "Looks like I've got a new playmate!"
Onnie flinched slightly, her voice small. "I... I couldn't sense her. Not even a little..."
"Mmm?" Lyra tilted her head. "What, are you blind or something?" She giggled. "Come on, shake my hand already."
"I-okay..." Onnie reached out slowly, guided only by Lyra's voice. They shook hands.
"I'm really sorry, Onnie," I said, lowering my head. "I didn't know she followed me here."
"It's okay," she replied, though her voice was still shaken. "I just... didn't expect her to get so close without me noticing."
"ANYWAYS!" Lyra clapped her hands, suddenly full of energy. "It's my birth month, and I'd love for you to come to the party tonight! We'll have food, dancing, and even cake!"
Onnie looked nervous. Her hands were folded tight in her lap, her gaze fixed to the ground like she was trying to vanish.
Oh no... I already knew what she was going to say. She'd say no. She always avoided people. She wouldn't come. I just—
"S-sure," Onnie whispered.
My thoughts froze.
"I could come..."
"What?" I blinked. Surprised as hell.
Before I could even respond, Lyra placed her hands on Onnie's shoulders. "Good, good! You're now officially my subordinate! That means you'll be working under me and I'll protect you from all dangers forever!"
"T-thanks... I guess..." Onnie gave a nervous half-smile.
"Perfect!" Lyra beamed with satisfaction. "I've got more recruits to gather, so I'll see you both this evening!" She spun on her heel and sprinted down the hill, her laughter trailing behind her like leaves in the wind.
I slowly turned toward Onnie, still trying to process what just happened.
"Did... you just say yes?" I asked. "You're really coming to the party? But what about people seeing you?"
She shrank slightly under the question. "I... I didn't know what to say. I just... agreed on instinct. I'm sorry."
I let out a long sigh. "Now you've got no choice. You have to show up, or Lyra's gonna take it out on me."
Onnie looked at me, her expression shifting. "Does she hurt you?"
I blinked, confused. "Huh? Sometimes. Not in a bad way, just... big sister stuff."
"I can't imagine my sister hurting me," she said softly.
I scratched my head. "Well, I guess everyone's different. Not all big sisters are good. I mean, mine's not bad, she's just... bossy. You'll get used to it."
"I see," she murmured. Her eyes drifted toward the forest. "I think I should head back early."
"What? Already? But we just got here."
"I'm sorry... I just need to go. I'll be back for the party, I promise."
"O-okay..." I said quietly.
Without waiting for my response, she turned and ran, her white dress flashing between the trees as she vanished into the woods.
I stood there for a moment before I started walking home.
The path felt quieter than usual. My hands slipped into my pockets as I kicked a pebble down the dirt trail. I wasn't sure why, but I felt a little... empty. Like something had slipped past me.
Her voice echoed in my mind.
"I... I couldn't even sense her. Not even a little..."
I frowned. Was Lyra invisible to her? That couldn't be possible... right?
But my head was already tired from thinking too much. I just wanted to lie down and forget the weirdness of today.
Even.. even if the feeling in my chest wouldn't go away.
***
I slopped into my bed, face-first, and groaned into the pillow. The sunlight poured through the window, soaking the room in gold. It caught my hair, making the strands gleam like they were glowing.
"Ughhh..."
I didn't even bother closing the door. Somewhere in the hallway, I heard footsteps, then the crunch of something being eaten. A shadow moved across the light, and I peeked with one eye.
Father passed by, a chunk of bread in one hand and a curious look on his face. He paused when he noticed me lying there like a sack of grain.
He stepped into my room and leaned on the doorframe, chewing slowly. "Hey, little bud," he said after a moment. "Everything okay?"
"Sup, Dad..." I mumbled, my voice buried in the pillow.
He raised a brow, then came in and sat beside me, the mattress dipping slightly under his weight. He offered a piece of his bread, but I didn't move.
"Mmm... Something happened," he said, not forcing it. "C'mon, tell Daddy what's going on."
I let out a sigh and rolled over onto my back, staring at the wooden beams of the ceiling.
"Well... it's Onnie," I said. "Lyra found us earlier. Somehow snuck up on her."
His chewing stopped. "Snuck up? Thought your girlfriend was sharp."
"She is," I said. I paused and scoffed, "And for the last time, she's not my girlfriend. Also, that's the weird part. Onnie didn't even sense her. At all. She acted like Lyra just popped into existence beside her."
He looked thoughtful. "And how did your friend take that?"
"She looked... shaken. She acted like she'd done something wrong just by missing her. Then Lyra invited her to the birthmonth party. And Onnie said yes."
He raised his brows. "Well, that's good, right?"
"Not really. I mean, I'm happy she's coming, but... she didn't think it through. She got flustered and agreed without thinking. I'm not even sure she wanted to. And then she left early."
Thorskil leaned back on his palms, nodding slowly. "And now you feel like something's off."
I glanced at him, then looked away. "Yeah."
He smiled gently, then ruffled my hair. "Sounds like you're starting to care a whole lot about this girl."
I blushed a little. Only a little. "It's not like that. I mean... maybe it is. I don't know. I just... want to understand her."
The fuck am I flustered for?
"Like I said, son. She'll tell you when she's ready. People got layers. Especially the quiet ones."
I stayed quiet for a while. Then something else came to mind.
"Dad?"
"Yeah?"
"That ring... on Lyra's finger. She showed it off earlier. It sparkled so bright it hurt my eyes."
Thorskil chuckled. "Oh, that old thing? Yeah, I gave it to her this morning. Part of her birth month gift."
I pushed myself upright on the bed, curiosity rising. "Does it do anything? I wanna have a gift like that when I turn seven."
Couldn't hurt to be a little selfish. I mean, come on! My dad is one of the Calamity Force. He had to be hiding all sorts of cool stuff somewhere. Right?
He took another bite from his bread and nodded. "Well, it does do one thing. It conceals your presence from any sort of magical sensory. Makes you nearly invisible to anyone who relies on mana to feel people out."
I blinked. "So that's why Onnie couldn't sense Lyra..." I sighed before whispering, "Stupid coincidence.."
"Yup," he said with a knowing grin. "That girl of yours has good sensory, I can tell. That's rare for someone her age."
I looked down, twisting the blanket in my lap. "Well, she is blind after all. Her only way for her to see is to actually sense the mana around her, and I think Lyra scared her. Like... really scared her."
Thorskil let out a low hum. "Didn't know she was blind. That explains a lot. She's probably blessed by a god then."
He grew quiet for a moment. His gaze shifted toward the open window. Clouds drifted lazily in the sky as he chewed slowly, lost in thought. Then he turned back to me.
"Dad, what does it actually mean to be blessed by a god? What does it do? I know you and Mom mentioned it before, and Onnie even asked if I was blessed. You already told me I'm not, but... I guess I'm still curious."
Thorskil leaned back, resting the half-eaten bread in his hand. "You see, blessings from the gods aren't something you can earn. They just happen. It's random, honestly. The gods watch from above, and every now and then, they choose someone. That person is born different. Born special."
I listened quietly.
"Being blessed gives you something unique. Not just talent, but traits no normal person could have. I had a friend once, blessed by the God of Lightning. That man didn't need to sleep. Not once. He could rest if he wanted to, sure, but if he didn't, it never caught up to him. His body just kept going like it was nothing. That's one of the more common blessings, actually."
He tapped his finger on the bedframe. "Some are born with massive mana pools. Others with strange gifts, like unnaturally durable aura, if you're a human of course.. A few even have powers no one else can mimic. Some blessings even stack together. That's the kind of thing blessings do. They push people ahead of the rest before they've even taken their first step."
Huh.. Now that feels like cheating. In my case, I was lucky + hardwork. If the healer never healed my arm, then I think I wouldn't have unlocked my mana. And through hardwork, I managed to increase my mana pool and learn Wordless Casting. Learning the spells after that, became easy.
He turned back to me, his voice steady.
"And for the second time, you're not one of them. If you were, I'd know. I'd be able to smell the god's mark on you. But I don't sense nor smell anything like that. You're just... you."
He smiled.
"But that's not a bad thing. You're gifted in your own way, Kyro. Blessed or not."
I sighed. "Yes, yes, Dad... I get it."
He chuckled, "Still, it's interesting that your friend, despite blind, still found a way to see."
I turned my head toward the window. "Yeah... She's just different. I know it."
Father looked at me, then smiled again. "You're different too, Kyro. Maybe that's why you two found each other."
That thought sat with me. Heavy, but warm.
Now I genuinely feel like a six year old.. Although my brain is a middle age man, I was nothing more than just.. a man-child. I'll stop right there, it hurts if I think too much about it.
I finally pulled my arms behind my head and let the silence settle. The bed creaked softly as Father stood up.
"Take a little rest. The party'll start in a few hours. You're gonna need your energy. And wear something decent, alright? Don't make your mom scold us both."
"Alright..." I mumbled as he walked out.
The room fell quiet again. I looked down at my hands, then to the window, where the sunlight was beginning to mellow into a softer orange.
--Onnie--
My name is Onnirelle Frayharp.
Leaves whispered gently above me as the breeze threaded through the trees, stirring the branches just enough to rustle their canopy. The air still carried the scent of pine needles and fresh earth, grounding me in the present. I glanced back once. The hill was empty now. He was already gone from our usual spot.
The silence left behind was strangely heavy.
I turned and began walking, my boots pressing softly into the mossy trail. I knew the way by heart. Each step was familiar, a quiet rhythm that led me through the forest's embrace. Trees stood like watchful guards around me, their trunks dark with age, their roots stretching across the ground like veins. I passed through without pause, and eventually, I saw it again.
The closet.
It stood alone where the trees thinned slightly, almost as if the forest itself had made room for it. It stood in front of a dead tree, supporting it to stand up. Vines curled tightly around it, gripping like claws. The structure had long been swallowed by rot, moss clung thickly to its corners, hiding it from sight. From a distance, it could be mistaken for a natural growth, just another hollow in the forest.
But I knew better.
No one else had found it. No one else even knew it existed. Not the village children. Not the hunters. Not even the old herbalist who walked these woods.
I brushed aside the greenery, letting my fingers trail across the damp wood. Despite the rot, the handle was firm beneath my grip. I didn't hesitate. I opened the door of the wardrobe and stepped into the darkness. The space within felt strange, as always. Not like a room, but more like slipping through a layer of water, thick and cool. My body tingled, as if the air had turned into syrup. It wasn't pain. It was weightlessness. Like being swallowed whole and gently expelled.
And just like that, the warmth of Ytval vanished behind me. Gone was the warmth of the sunlight, the comfortable wind, the ever-present hum of bees and birds. The air turned cold the moment I passed through.
Snowflakes drifted slowly outside the frosted glass window, catching the moonlight as I stepped out from the inside of another closet — this one pristine, polished, and dusted. I took a long breath and opened the door with a soft push.
I had returned.
Kingdom Of Varellos.
The Kingdom of Snow.
This is where I truly live. I'm the second princess of the Kingdom Of Varellos. I am a royalty.
The shift in atmosphere was stark. The warmth and chatter of Ytval had been replaced by silence and stillness. A velvet curtain swayed near the window, disturbed by the faintest whisper of wind that had found its way through the icy panes. Candlelight flickered on the walls, trapped within crystal sconces that gave off a subdued, golden glow (I assumed..) The air here was thinner, drier, and carried the scent of melting wax and stone.
I exhaled slowly, then I glanced behind me.
The closet stood in the far corner of the room, nestled neatly between a wardrobe and a tall bookshelf. It looked ordinary. Unassuming. Its white-painted doors gleamed faintly in the candlelight. No one would ever guess it connected to a forest on the other side of the continent.
It had multiple places that you could get to, but Ytval was the only place I'm allowed to go said by my sister. Anywhere else could be dangerous and unfamiliar.
It's our little secret; only my sister and I knew what it truly was. Not even she knows why it was like that or who made it.
"Back already?" a soft voice called out.
I turned toward the bed.
Althalia lay propped against a mound of white furs, her body frail beneath the layers. Her silver hair was braided neatly over her shoulder, a few strands falling loose against her cheeks. Her skin was pale, almost translucent in the soft light, and her lips carried the faintest touch of color. Even her voice, though quiet, carried warmth.
"You're early tonight," she added with a small smile.
I smiled back and walked toward her, brushing left over leaves from my shoulder. I removed my dress shoes at the foot of her bed and sat down gently beside her. She reached out, her hand thin and cold. I took it in both of mine, wrapping my fingers around hers to warm her.
"Yeah, well... something happened," I said, my voice smaller than I intended. A bit of worry slipped into my tone before I could mask it.
Althalia tilted her head slightly on the pillow, the movement subtle beneath the heavy white furs. Her expression softened, a gentle curiosity stirring in her pale green eyes.
"Mmm?" she hummed, already sensing where this was going. Her voice warmed with playful knowing. "Let me guess. Something to do with Kyro?"
I hesitated for a breath. Then gave a slow, reluctant nod."Sort of… but it's not really him. It's his sister."
"Oh?" Her eyebrows lifted, intrigued now. "Go on."
Since the very first night I stepped foot in Ytval, I'd always told Althalia everything. She was the one who showed me the closet in the first place, the one hidden behind old tapestries in the corner of her room. A strange old thing rooted to another like it across the world. She had discovered it years ago, long before I was ever allowed to wander on my own. And when she got sick (truly sick), she made me promise that I would only use it to go where she felt it was safe.
Ytval was the only place she approved. A quiet village tucked far from any warfront or magic surge, simple and ordinary. It was Peaceful. And for nearly a year, I went there almost every night without fail.
Because I didn't need sleep. Neither of us did.
We were both blessed — chosen by the God of Nature. It had been confirmed by the royal mage himself. We didn't tire the way others did. We could stay awake through sunrises and moonscapes, days without rest, and it would never wear on us. Though Althalia had stopped using the closet once her illness worsened, I carried that ritual in her place. I walked under the stars for her, explored that other parts of the world for her, and told her every story the moment I returned. However, those were brief explorations because, as I mentioned, she wouldn't allow me to go anywhere other than Ytval.
Nine months had passed since I first arrived in Ytval. And out of those nine, three had become special. Not for any reason tied to magic or royalty, but because of him.
Kyro.
The boy I met beneath the shade of a pine tree one quiet spring night. The boy who wasn't scared of my strange white robes or the quiet way I spoke. We met by chance. Or maybe not. Either way, the days spent with him had become precious. The stories we shared, the jokes, the magic training, and the stillness in between… those were mine.
And Althalia knew. She listened to every story like it was a lullaby. She would laugh when I told her Kyro's clumsy attempts at spells or smile softly when I described the way he fell asleep under the trees.
"Kyro's sister invited me to a party," I said quietly. "It's her birthmonth."
Althalia's eyes widened, a small gasp escaping her lips. "Really? That's great!"
"I thought so too... but... I don't know."
I wrung my hands together in my lap, fingers brushing over the white lining of my cloak.
"If I go back when the party starts... it'll be evening over there in Ytval. And that means it'll be morning here in Varellos. I still have my lessons with the royal mage, and you know how Mother is. If she finds out I missed a lesson again, she'll—"
Althalia didn't say anything. She didn't need to. We both knew how our mother could be. Stern. Unforgiving. She believed appearances meant everything, especially for royalty.
I focused toward my sister, my voice dropping into a quiet space between fear and guilt.
"But... if I don't go... I think Kyro's sister might hurt him."
That got her attention. Althalia sat up a little straighter, her frail arms shifting beneath the blankets.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know how to explain it." I swallowed. "She's not mean, not really. Just... strong. Intense. I met her today, and something about her made my senses go quiet. I couldn't feel her presence at all, like she was invisible to mana. I've never experienced that before."
Althalia's brow furrowed. "Really?"
I nodded. "It scared me. Not because I think she'll do something wrong, but because I don't understand her. And Kyro… he's brave, but he's also soft, you know? I don't want her to hurt him. Not on purpose, but by accident. She invited me because she thought I was his friend. Because she wanted to see what kind of people he's close to."
Althalia looked at me with that thoughtful gaze she always wore when something mattered deeply.
"And you are his friend, Onnie."
"I know that," I said quickly. "But I don't know what to do."
She reached out and took my hand. Her skin was cold, but steady. "You're caught between two things that matter to you. That's never easy. You have your duty here. Your studies. Our family's expectations. But you also have that place, and the people you've come to care about. You don't have to choose one over the other forever. But maybe just this once, you can ask yourself... which one needs you more right now?"
Her voice was so soft. So calm.
I looked down at our hands, hers resting gently in mine.
"I think... I think Kyro might need me."
"Then go," she said.
"But what about—"
"I'll handle Mother. Just this once. I'll tell her you were helping me with my fever. She won't argue with that."
A smile crept onto my lips, slow and uncertain. "You sure?"
Althalia nodded. "Of course. You've been by my side every night for the past nine months, Onnirelle. I can spare one night for you to go dance at a party."
The candlelight flickered softly across her face.
"Besides," she whispered, "you've spent so much time alone. Maybe it's time you sneaked out for something loud and joyful with your friend instead. And honestly, imagining you actually having friends made me very proud of you."
I laughed, my chest warming.
"Thanks, Thalia."
"Now go and dress up," she said, reclining back into her pillows. "And tell me everything when you get home."
[End]