Weeks flew by and Kael did exactly what Astra ordered him do to: live his daily life and avoid standing out. He attended his lectures, trained his swordmanship, studied for the upcoming exams and spent time with his friends. He never spoke to Astra during those weeks, yet he could always feel her eyes on him. It wasn’t obvious, never enough for anyone else to notice. But it was there, like a faint pressure at the edge of his awareness.

  It still gives me chills whenever I catch her watching me, he thought as he left the lecture hall with Zaros, but i have to admit….she hasn’t done anything untrustworthy. If anything, it almost feels like she’s watching over me, in her own strange way.

  "Man, that lecture from Professor Nora was a nightmare!“ Zaros groaned, dragging Kael out of his thoughts.“Why do we even have to learn statistics and algebra? I hated numbers, and now they’re replaced them with letters? That makes no sense!“

  "It’s logical. You are just too lazy to actually look at it,“ Kael replied dryly. “Professor Nora gave you another blast because you were sleeping through half the class.“

  "It’s just so boring,“ Zaros muttered, shoulders slumping. “But you’re right. I’ll have to learn it eventually, or i’ll never get past that exam.“

  "Don’t be a pessimist, “Kael said with a grin, trying to lighten the mood. “We’ll take Lia and the two of us will tutor you until you’ve got it down. Where is she, anyway?“

  "I think she went this way.“ Zaros replied and pointing toward a quiet passageway.

  They followed the corridor until a familiar silhouette appeared beneath the pale afternoon light. Red hair, wide-brimmed hat. Lia.

  Zaros lifted a hand to call out to her, but Kael stopped him gently. “Wait,“ he whispered. “Something’s wrong.“

  They crouched behind the corner, breaths held. A young man stood opposite Lia, his stance dripping with arrogance.

  "Who’s that?“ Kael asked softly.

  "Silas,“ Zaros hissed. “Noble scum. Thinks his status gives him the right to everything.“

  "Dear Lia.“ Silas cooed, his voice sweet like poisoned honey. He leaned in to kiss her cheek.

  Lia pushed him back with sudden strength, her eyes blazing. “I will never let you touch me.“ she hissed.

  Silas laughed, low and vile. “You have no choice. Maybe not today,“ he said, stepping closer,“ but tomorrow? Tomorrow, we’ll be groom and bride. Your parents have already agreed. They sold you.“

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  His tone softened, but his smile twisted into something cruel. “When I’m bored of you, I’ll let you go. If you can still walk away.“

  Each word fell like a shackle around her. Her hands trembled; tears welled up like water rising against a fragile dam. Silas noticed. He reached for her chest, fingers curling like claws.

  "Let me have a little appetizer before tomorrow’s main course,“ he sneered.

  Her body froze. Something inside her cracked.

  And then-

  "Lia.“

  Kael’s voice cut through the air like a blade through silk. Calm. Even. Measured. But dangerous in its stillness.

  Both Silas and Lia turned. At the entrance stood Kael, framed by the dim light, Zaros at his side.

  "We’ve been looking for you,“ he said steadily. “Zaros needs our help with the exam.“

  His face was unreadable, but his gaze burned.

  Silas clicked his tongue. “Tch. Guess my appetizer will just have to come before the main course.“ He threw Lia a final, vile grin. “See you tomorrow.“

  He walked away, unaware that something in the air had shifted.

  Lia didn’t stop crying. Kael and Zaros exchanged helpless looks.

  "Go away,“ she whispered, her voice cracked.

  "Why?“ Kael stepped closer. “We’re worried about you. We’ll help you.“

  "How?“ she shouted suddenly. She ran at him and struck his chest with both fists. “How? How? HOW?“ her blows were weak but filled with desperation.

  Kael stood frozen. His arm twitched, ready to hold her, but he couldn’t move. Something inside him held him back.

  "I didn’t want you two to see me like this,“ she whispered at last. Her forehead rested against his chest, her tears soaking his shirt. “Just…let me enjoy this moment of warmth before I return to my personal hell.“

  Silence fell. Neither Kael nor Zaros spoke.

  "Thank you,“ Lia said finally. She looked up at them, a fragile smile breaking through her tears. “You were the best friends I ever had….and will ever have.“

  Then she turned and walked away. Her smile lingered in the air-soft, sorrowful, unforgettable.

  "Fuck,“ Kael snarled, slamming his fist against the wall. Pain shot up his arm, but it rarely registered.

  Why couldn’t I hold her? Why did her crying feel like a memory I couldn’t grasp?

  "We have to do something,“ he said, turning to Zaros.

  "We can’t,“ Zaros answered flatly.

  "We can’t? Just-we can’t?“ Kael barked a bitter laugh. “The great warrior Zaros is afraid of beating up that little piece of shit?“

  Zaros face twisted with rage. He grabbed Kael by the collar and slammed him against the wall.

  "Don’t push it. I’m not afraid of him. I’m afraid of his family,“ he growled. “They have power you couldn’t dream of. There’s nothing illegal about selling your daughter for influence. Lia’s family sacrificed her. Disgusting, yes, but common.“

  He stepped back, voice steadying. “What he did today was harassment. We could report him. But tomorrow, when they’re engaged, it’ll be dismissed as a lover’s quarrel. That’s the society we live in.“

  Kael’s eyes darkened. “This society is broken! The nobles pretend to protect this country, but they’re the rot inside it. They should be eradicated.“

  "Don’t say that,“ Zaros warned,“ The shadows have ears. You’d be executed before sunset. Lay low. Live unnoticed.“

  Lay low…live unnoticed. The words struck Kael. Exactly what Astra told me. Did he overhear us?

  "What do you mean?“ he asked carefully.

  Zaros blinked. “Isn’t it obvious? You’re already called the Spawn of Darkness. Pick a fight with nobles and it gets worse.“

  Kael exhaled slowly. I almost doubted my best friend.

  "You’re right,“ he muttered. “I lost my composure.“

  "You don’t need to apologize,“ Zaros said. “I’m angry too. But we can’t let our emotions rule us.“

  Kael chuckled dryly. “Philosophical words, coming from you.“