The library doors creaked open, and the faint glow of lanterns inside brushed over the rows of towering shelves. The air was hushed, filled with the scent of parchment and polished wood.
Hiral entered first, his steady steps unhurried, but before Arasha could decide how to begin, it was Hiral who broke the silence.
"You should be more aware of your influence, Commander. Whether you realize it or not, every commander in that chamber looks to you. Some with admiration, some with suspicion. As the leading military figure in this alliance, your stance shapes the room before you even speak."
Arasha blinked, then let a small smile play on her lips.
"You're right. It seems I still underestimate my presence."
A shadow of humor passed across Hiral's face as he turned toward a nearby desk, brushing dust from its surface.
"And perhaps next time, if you intend to eavesdrop, you should do a better job of hiding it."
The teasing was so unexpected that Arasha chuckled, shaking her head.
"You're right once again. I'll take that lesson to heart."
Her smile softened, but then her expression grew more thoughtful as she leaned against a nearby shelf.
"Tell me, General Hiral—your honest opinion. About this group of military leaders. You come from a newly liberated nation, yet you've already risen to this council with such clarity. What do you see, from your vantage?"
Hiral folded his hands behind his back, gaze steady on the lantern light.
"It is precisely because we are newly recognized that we rise so quickly to the call. Unity is not a luxury for us—it is survival. By standing here, by aligning ourselves with you and King Alight, we establish the alliances we desperately need. Only then can we focus on building our nation securely, without the constant threat of invasion. And should a rift open in our lands, we are the ones who would suffer most without help. So, we are grateful to Luxurite Kingdom for extending its hand."
Arasha's eyes softened at his words, though she remained quiet, listening.
Hiral continued.
"But you must understand, Commander—other nations see the alliance differently. To them, it is both shield and weapon, both opportunity and danger. They will test it, bend it, and try to wrest advantage from it. Some will even resent it. That is why you cannot waver. You must hold firmly to your authority, especially in their presence. Only a clear, unwavering order will keep this fragile unity intact."
The weight of his words lingered in the lantern-lit air. Arasha drew in a slow breath, then inclined her head.
"You've given me much to think on. Thank you, General. I'm… grateful to have come to know a man of such wisdom."
Hiral only nodded, his expression reserved but respectful.
As Arasha turned to leave, she felt the heaviness that had pressed upon her chest since the meeting begin to ease.
She walked out of the library with a steadier stride, her resolve sharpened by the insight of a general who, though newly risen, carried himself with the weight of long experience.
Meanwhile…
The war council chamber had long since emptied, but faint candlelight still lingered in the side corridors of the fortress.
Kane, restless, found his steps leading him to a terrace that overlooked the darkened valley.
There, leaning with disarming ease against the balustrade, was General Alexis, the moonlight catching the faint silver in his blonde hair.
"General Alexis… may I ask you something? About your… intentions, during today's meeting."
Alexis tilted his head, his smile sharp but not unfriendly.
"Straight to the heart of it. Very well, Commander. Ask."
Kane folded his arms, his voice steady.
"You undermined us in front of the others, and yet it felt deliberate—not reckless. Why?"
Alexis's gaze shifted to the valley, his tone frank but layered.
"Because in councils like these, conviction is worth more than clever words. If you could not withstand a challenge—if your alliance depended only on courtesy—it would fall apart the first time the battlefield demanded more. I test not to destroy, Kane, but to measure."
Kane studied him, catching the glint of something earnest beneath the bravado.
"And the alliance itself? What is your opinion of this joint effort?"
Alexis shrugged, expression hardening with a soldier's clarity.
"Necessary. No single nation can survive what's coming. But…" He trailed off, enigmatic, his tone shifting.
"Leaders are another matter. Unity among nations is a fine dream, but unity among leaders? That is a battlefield of its own."
There was something more he didn't say, Kane could feel it—a hesitation cloaked in deliberate vagueness. But Kane didn't press. Instead, he inclined his head.
"Thank you, General. For being honest—at least, as much as you allow."
He turned to leave, but Alexis's voice cut the silence.
"Wait, Kane. Tell me—what are you to Arasha?"
Kane didn't flinch, didn't falter. He answered with proud clarity.
"Her lover. Her support. Her unwavering partner."
For a heartbeat the terrace was quiet, then Alexis barked out a guffaw, the sound echoing against the stone walls.
"Ha! So straightforward! You Luxurites wear your hearts bare for all to see. Very well—go on then, before I'm tempted to challenge you for being so insufferably proud."
He waved Kane off with a smirk, and Kane, unbothered, departed with steady steps.
The laughter faded as Kane's footsteps vanished down the corridor. Alone, Alexis leaned back against the balustrade, his eyes lifting to the moon that bathed the fortress in pale light.
The smirk slid from his lips, replaced by something heavier, quieter.
Alexis murmured,"Proud, unwavering, and always at her side… How enviable."
His hand slipped beneath his tunic, fingers curling around the cool metal of a necklace that hung hidden against his chest—a small silver koi.
He held it tightly, the chain biting into his palm.
"To stand so close, and yet… I remain always at a distance."
The moonlight shimmered in his eyes, catching the trace of longing that his proud demeanor never betrayed.
Alone, Alexis stood in silence, clutching the token of a love that could never step into the light.