= Amara =
Lyra paused beside me as she passed, her expression gentler than it had been moments ago.
“We’ll continue tomorrow, Miss Amara.” she said quietly. “You did well today.”
I managed a small nod, barely forming a reply before she was gone, her footsteps joining the others as the great hall slowly emptied.
Silence settled in her wake.
The echo of retreating boots faded, leaving only the faint hum of candlelight and the sense of a presence that hadn’t moved.
Mikael.
Smoothing my sleeves out of sheer habit—something to anchor myself, something familiar, I looked back at him.
“That was… abrupt,” I said, aiming for casual even as the words felt too thin in the open space.
Mikael’s mouth curved slightly. Not quite a smile.
“They were done.”
I lifted a brow. “Were they?”
He step
