For a while, Lucien and Eirene stood in the void beneath distant planets and silent moons.
Sound should not have traveled here.
There was no air to carry it. And yet, when Eirene spoke, her voice reached Lucien clearly.
"Congratulations too."
Lucien looked at her.
Eirene's Stillbloom Moonbody glowed softly beneath the starlight.
She continued, "And thank you for helping me."
Lucien nodded.
"You chose yourself."
"You gave me the chance to."
He wanted to say something. Then stopped.
There were too many questions.
Eirene noticed his silence, then, her smile softened.
"Are you curious?"
Lucien smiled back.
"Well, will you tell me?"
Eirene fell silent.
The motes around her slowed until they seemed almost motionless. Then she looked toward the distant Big World, shining far away like a jewel beneath the dark.
"I cannot tell you everything for now."
Lucien did not interrupt.
"But as you saw earlier, you probably suspected it already."
She turned back to him.
