"Some people don't just silence their voice… they silence themselves."
---
In the nights of Silencia,
the wind used to blow fiercely —
yet, everyone remained quiet.
Noen's heart had also become like that —
silent… but shaking inside.
That night,
Sera came to him.
In a quiet corner of the caravan — where the torchlight was dim,
but the truth in their eyes was bright.
> "You want to play again, don't you?" Sera asked.
Noen simply answered with his eyes.
"Then play."
Those three words…
felt like a spell.
But in this city,
every spell comes with a curse.
---
The next day,
a few guards arrived.
In their hands — a notice.
> "Sera, you are being summoned.
For defending a lawbreaker… with your voice."
Sera stayed silent.
Noen was standing right there…
but no words came out.
He just held Sera's hands —
and softly said:
> "I'll speak… if you don't want to."
But Sera slowly let go of his hand.
> "No one ever gave me this right…
so I'll take it myself."
---
There was no courtroom.
Just a stone platform —
surrounded by guards and curious people.
Silencia's law: The pain of sound… is measured by sound.
There stood Sera.
Silent for a moment.
Everyone thought — she would break down too.
But then… she opened her eyes.
And said:
> "I respect this city's laws…
but what do you do when a child hears music in a dream?
Will you punish them too?"
A slap echoed.
But her eyes did not lower.
> "If sound brings pain…
does silence heal everything?"
The crowd shifted.
The guards froze.
And the judge-like man simply said:
> "This is not your trial.
But it will be… if you speak again."
Sera looked at Noen.
Her lips trembled a little… but there was a hidden smile.
> "Shall I speak again… if you say so?"
Noen slowly shook his head —
No.
Not yet.
---
That night…
Sera picked up the violin.
And played a note — without melody, without beat —
just a soft vibration left in the air.
> "I'm ready now," she said.
"Not just to listen… but to speak."
---
End of Chapter 8