After distributing rations from their supplies to the siblings, Kael joined Astra, who was standing apart from the others and leaning silently against the wall. She lowered her head, and dark strands of hair fell across her face like a curtain.

  "I promised them we'd get them out of here," Kael admitted quietly as he leaned beside her, studying her out of the corner of his eye. "But I honestly don't know how."

  She didn’t respond at first. Slowly, she straightened and gathered her hair into a tight braid, her movements controlled and deliberate.

  "I have two suggestions," she said at last, tying the braid off. “I dislike both.”

  Kael waited.

  "The first is to take them with us," she continued matter-of-factly. "Their chances of surviving would be close to zero. But technically, you would have kept your promise.”

  Kael narrowed his eyes. "You can't be serious."

  She shrugged. "I'm listing possibilities. I want that outcome as little as you do."

  “What about the second?”

  Astra exhaled sharply, as if the mere thought left a bitter taste in her mouth. She hesitated before turning toward him.

  "We could ask Cassandra to take them in. As part of one of the most influential families in the capital, she could easily arrange for someone to bring them there safely." Her gaze turned mocking. "As her fiancé, I doubt she'd refuse you."

  Kael smirked faintly. "Is that jealousy I hear?"

  Astra scoffed. "Hardly. I simply find it remarkable how foolish men become when an attractive woman is in front of them. They don't even realize they're being manipulated."

  “Why do you hate her so much?” Kael asked, his tone shifting to seriousness. "You always react like this when she's mentioned. You rarely react to anyone.”

  Her expression hardened.

  "She embodies everything I despise," Astra replied coldly. "Arrogant. Self-assured. Calculating. And worst of all, she never takes risks. She always plays it safe.”

  Her eyes flicked briefly to his. "Though apparently, she made an exception with you."

  "She isn't the way you describe her," Kael countered quietly. "She's more complex than you give her credit for."

  Astra shrugged again. "I don't care. Contact her if you want. Ausma could reach the capital in half a day.” She turned away. "But I want nothing to do with her."

  She left the house without another word.

  Kael watched her go, unease settling in his chest.

  He had considered sending Cassandra a message before, just to let her know he was alive. At the very least, she deserved that much. Even though he had decided to sever emotional ties, part of him still hesitated.

  He had always found an excuse not to write.

  Kael stared down at the floor, his expression blank.

  Who am I fooling?

  I can’t bear the thought that she might hate me, too.

  His fist tightened.

  But why do I feel that way?

  He glanced at the siblings and exhaled slowly.

  It doesn't matter now.

  He moved to the table and began writing. It took longer than expected; he struggled to decide what to say. In the end, he kept it simple. He explained their situation and asked Cassandra to arrange for the children to have safe passage and to take them in.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Nothing more.

  He stepped outside and gave a sharp whistle. Moments later, Ausma descended from the sky and landed on Kael’s outstretched arm. Kael briefly stroked the falcon’s feathers before fastening the folded note to his claw.

  "Take this to Cassandra," he murmured. "You know who she is."

  Ausma looked at him with golden eyes for a moment before flying back into the sky and heading toward the distant capital.

  Kael watched until the falcon became a dark speck on the horizon. Then he turned.

  Astra stood some distance away, practicing with her blades.

  He paused.

  When Astra fought, she was breathtaking.

  Her movements flowed like a silent dance—precise and inevitable. An opponent would have no choice but to follow her rhythm, only realizing too late that the dance ended in death.

  She made no sound as she moved.

  Instead of her usual sword, she wielded two short blades, slicing through the air with speed and power. Each step was controlled. Each strike was efficient.

  Cold. Beautiful. Unreachable.

  For the first time, Kael wondered if he had created the distance between them or if it had always been there.

  Astra slowed when she felt his gaze on her. For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.

  The air between them still carried the sharp edge of unspoken words.

  Then, without warning, she sprinted toward him.

  Before he could say anything, she dropped her blades and tackled him to the ground in a clean, practiced throw.

  They hit the grass with a dull thud.

  “What was that for?” Kael asked, rubbing the back of his neck as he sat up, more startled than hurt.

  She only shrugged while retrieving her swords. "I don't know. I just felt like doing it."

  Kael snorted, rose to his feet, and drew his blade. "Then I'll return the favor. Twice over.”

  His voice carried mock seriousness, but the grin tugging at his lips betrayed him.

  Astra turned fully toward him, amusement flickering in her dark eyes.

  He moved first.

  Steel met steel.

  And just like that, everything else faded.

  The city. The mission. The fear. The future. None of it mattered.

  In that moment, for Kael, there was only one thing—

  He accepted Astra’s invitation to dance, proving himself her equal partner.

  The fields blurred at the edges of his vision. The mountains melted into shadow. Only she remained clear.

  He noticed everything:

  He noticed the way the wind caught in her hair.

  The sheen of sweat on her brow.

  The sharp, unreadable focus in her black eyes.

  Every detail burned into him.

  They moved as if their roles had not yet been decided. Neither leading. Neither yielding. There was a constant shift of motion and counter-motion.

  There was no strategy. No rigid technique.

  They simply responded to one another.

  They were perfectly attuned.

  Not a single cut landed. Not even the slightest touch of a blade.

  Kael laughed.

  The sound startled even him.

  He hadn't felt joy in combat like this in what felt like another lifetime. The movement, the rhythm, the closeness—it was freeing in a way he hadn't allowed himself to experience.

  Heartbeats passed.

  Or perhaps only one.

  They finally slowed, lowering their swords, their breaths uneven.

  The world returned.

  The golden fields.

  The distant mountains.

  The sky stretched wide above them.

  Kael fell backward into the grass, arms spread and eyes closed.

  A cool breeze brushed his face.

  The sun warmed his skin.

  For a moment, everything felt simple.

  He heard footsteps approach and knew without looking that Astra had sat down beside him.

  "Thank you," he said quietly.

  There was no reply.

  But he didn’t need one.

  He knew she understood.

  "I've never felt this free before," Kael admitted, opening his eyes.

  He lifted his hand toward the sun and watched the light filter between his fingers.

  Was this what Nora had always meant?

  To fight because it frees you, not because it feeds your fear?

  Beside him, Astra slowly leaned back until she was lying level with him. She was close enough that if he turned his head slightly, he could see her face clearly.

  He did.

  At that exact moment, she turned toward him as well.

  Their eyes met.

  He could tell immediately that the duel had meant just as much to her. Her chest rose and fell quickly, mirroring his own. She was still breathing hard, which she rarely did after combat. Astra never tired. Not like this.

  Silence settled between them.

  No wind. No movement. There was no distant noise from the city.

  Just the two of them.

  Neither looked away.

  Why am I looking at her like that? Kael wondered. Why is there warmth in my eyes?

  The fear he had seen in his reflection earlier, the fear in the blade, felt washed away. Gone, if only for this fragile moment.

  Astra’s expression was unfamiliar, too.

  It was as if she had stumbled upon something she did not recognize. Something she did not know how to handle.

  "Kael..." she began softly.

  Her voice was barely more than a breath.

  Slowly, almost unconsciously, she lifted her hand toward his face.

  Her fingers hovered just inches from his cheek.

  And then—

  She froze.

  Her eyes widened as if she had just realized what she was about to do.

  She quickly pulled her hand back as though the air between them had burned her.

  She stood up so abruptly that she nearly stumbled.

  Kael’s expression shifted just as quickly. The brief moment of openness vanished, replaced by the sharp awareness that he had almost let something slip. Almost lost control.

  He pushed himself upright as well.

  He opened his mouth to speak.

  Nothing came out.

  Instead, a frustrated breath escaped him.

  Without another word, he turned and walked back toward the house.

  Astra remained standing in the field behind him, staring at the hand that had nearly touched his face.

  Confusion flickered across her features.

  Her fingers curled slowly into her palm.

  It was as if she were trying to understand why she had wanted to reach for him in the first place.