Date: Night Before New Year
Location: Healing Wing, Room 7
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I woke to moonlight.
The room was still. The faint smell of herbs and healing magic lingered in the air.
My body ached — not from battle, but from what came after.
My mana was scorched again. My ribs were bandaged. My right hand trembled when I tried to lift it.
But I wasn't alone.
Lily sat by the window.
Her arms wrapped around her knees, her long hair falling like silver ink under the moon. She didn't notice I was awake. Or maybe she did, and just didn't want to speak yet.
Outside the hall, the others had gone for a break. Leander had probably dragged them away so someone could breathe. But Lily stayed.
She always does.
---
> "You're awake," she said quietly, without turning.
I didn't answer. Not right away.
> "How long was I out?"
> "Three days."
"You were cold on the first night," she whispered. "Elric was panicking. Anna cried herself to sleep. I—"
Her voice cracked. Just once.
She pulled something from her cloak. My journal.
Held tightly. Tighter than she should've.
> "I read it," she said, almost ashamed.
"Not aloud. Not to the others. Just me."
> "I knew if they saw what you wrote… they'd break."
I looked at her. Really looked.
And I saw it.
The weight she carried. The fear she buried.
The way her shoulders shook — just slightly — like a dam cracking.
She was always the strong one. The composed one.
But now, she just looked… tired. And afraid.
I reached out with my unbandaged hand. Placed it softly on hers.
> "You weren't supposed to read it."
> "I know," she said.
A pause.
Then she turned, and finally — finally — she looked at me.
> "You always try to carry everything."
"Why do you think that makes the rest of us lighter?"
Her voice broke on the last word.
She didn't sob.
She didn't scream.
She just leaned forward, pressed her forehead to my shoulder — and cried.
Small, shaking breaths. Warm tears. A silence more powerful than any spell.
I let her.
Because I'd cried alone before.
And no one should have to do that twice.
---
They returned not long after. Leander's too-loud laugh echoed down the hallway. Anna's footsteps skipped over the floor. Elric's voice, steady as ever.
They saw Lily first — wiping her face quickly. Then me.
Leander froze.
> "...You bastard," he whispered, then broke into a grin.
"You're awake!"
Anna nearly tripped. Riya screamed. Gideon raised both hands like he saw a ghost. Even Alice flinched.
And then they rushed me.
Warmth — too much, too fast. Hands on my arms, jokes flying, voices rising.
But I didn't mind.
Because they were here.
And so was I.
---