After Lilya ascended into the sky, Noa remained motionless for a long time. The fire slowly died out, its embers scattering in the wind and dissolving into the darkness. Only the chirping of insects and the distant howling of the wind filled the surroundings.
Noa placed his elbow on his knee and lowered his head. He grabbed a handful of snow from the ground and, for a moment, cast Lilya out of his mind.
He slowly stood up and looked around. In the dim light, shadows stretched from the cracks in the walls; rats scurried across the floor with faint squeaks. Noa closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then bent down and picked up a stone.
With a swift motion, he slammed the stone down — the rat squealed and suddenly fell silent. Noa picked up its limp body in his hand and stood in silence for a while.
"Disgusting…" he whispered. "But they are forcing me."
He tore the creature's body apart and bit into the raw meat. The hot blood burned his tongue, and the metallic taste spread through his mouth. Yet he did not hesitate — he swallowed. A strange expression appeared on his face.
"Once, I used to taste the finest dishes on golden plates. And now…"
He pressed his palm to his forehead and smiled faintly.
Then he caught another rat, slammed it against the ground, and ate it. Then another. Warmth spread through his veins, heat filled his body, and his muscles tensed.
When the sun began to rise, Noa returned to the dormitory. The others were still sleeping. He sat on the edge of his bed and stared at the ceiling.
When he stepped outside, the cold air stung his skin. The courtyard was completely empty.
He took a deep breath, stretched his body, and began training.
His fists sliced through the air, each strike producing a sound like a whistle.
After training, he went for breakfast.
No one spoke while he ate breakfast with satisfaction, but they glanced at him with curiosity.
Then he headed to the library. Few dragons ever entered this place.
The days passed in this manner. He lost himself in the silence of ink and parchment.
The days continued like this. Lilya had not come for a long time. The castle lords had prepared a special training room for the princess in another wing, and her schedule left no free time.
When the sun set and the sky burned bright red, Noa returned to his room. His body was exhausted, but a calm fire burned in his eyes. The door creaked open.
Lilya stepped inside. There were signs of fatigue on her face, but worry sparkled in her eyes.
"Brother…" she whispered. "I came to see you."
Noa looked at her. His cold gaze softened slightly, but he said nothing.
Lilya sat on the edge of his bed.
"You've changed," she said.
Noa shrugged. "Maybe."
"No," Lilya said firmly. "You have definitely changed. You've become so cold. Who made you change like this?"
Noa opened his mouth to speak to Lilya, but his throat tightened and he couldn't speak. He closed his mouth again.
And he remained staring out the window. Silver moonlight from Siamond poured through the window, painting the room in silver tones. Outside, the wind whispered.
"Lilya," he said softly. "Don't come here anymore."
Lilya shook her head.
"You don't decide where I go."
Noa closed his eyes.
"Since when… have you become so talkative? You've become really boring," he said, his pupils narrowing.
Her gaze dropped to the floor. A faint smile appeared on her lips, but tears sparkled in her eyes.
"Maybe… since you changed."
She slowly spread her bright red wings. Their light filled the room. Then she gently rose from the window and ascended into the quiet night.
Noa remained motionless.
"Did I change? No — you all forced me to. Your baseless hatred, your mockery at every step, your desire to see me dead. But I didn't deserve it."
The night deepened. The wind howled. The embers turned to ash. Noa lay down, closed his eyes, and waited for another dawn.
But while he slept, a faint mana began to emanate from the seal on his hand — black mist swirled into the air. It filled the room for a moment and then spread like fog and disappeared.