Luke shut the door behind them with a soft click, letting the noise and rush from the north gate fade completely. The room felt quieter than usual—maybe because their minds were louder. Luke dropped himself onto the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, while Ilyrana sat across from him on the small cushioned stool, her posture relaxed but her expression thoughtful.
No videos. No distractions. Just the two of them… and the question they'd avoided for days.
"So," Luke began, exhaling a long, pent-up breath. "I guess… this is the moment we actually talk about what's next."
Ilyrana smiled faintly.
"It would be wise. Last time, we were… distracted."
"Yeah," Luke said, a small laugh escaping him. "Your fault."
She raised an eyebrow.
"My fault? You're the one who introduced me to an entire world through a tiny glowing rectangle."
He held up his hands.
"Okay, okay, fine. Our fault."
