The morning air was heavy with mist.
Aria sat near the fire, hugging her knees to her chest. The sky was gray, the light barely breaking through the clouds.
She hadn't spoken about what she saw last night.
Not to Rael.
Not to Lysander.
And the torn note stayed hidden in her cloak, close to her skin.
The one closest… betrayal comes from…
The words echoed louder now.
Because both of them were close.
And she didn't know who to step away from.
---
Lysander returned with kindling, quiet as ever.
He placed the wood near the flames and sat beside her — but not too close.
His presence was warm. Familiar.
But different from before.
You're distant, he said softly.
She looked at him in surprise. I'm just… tired.
No,he said. You're thinking something you haven't said.
She didn't answer.
He turned to face her. Do you remember something else?
Aria looked down at her hands. The pendant glowed faintly.
I remember… pieces,she whispered. "But they don't make sense yet."
Lysander didn't push. But his silence held something — maybe worry. Maybe doubt.
---
Rael arrived a little later.
He didn't smirk this time. Just gave her a calm nod and sat across from them.
Aria glanced at him, remembering the glowing red mark on the stone.
She said nothing.
But her stomach twisted.
Then Rael spoke.
>You remember the Twin Blades you used to train with?he asked.You always kept them under your bed. Drove your guards mad.
Aria froze.
Something was wrong.
She'd seen a flash of her old room in a dream — and the blades had been hidden inside a wall drawer, not under a bed.
Just a small thing.
But it didn't match.
Why would he lie about something like that?
---
She forced a small smile. Right. Under the bed.
Rael gave a soft laugh. You were always a little reckless.
But now, doubt bloomed in her chest like a shadow.
He said he remembered clearly. So why would he remember wrong?
Unless… he wasn't there.
Or he was trying to sound closer than he really was.
---
Later, while gathering herbs near the edge of the woods, Aria found something else.
A small metal charm — buried halfway in the dirt.
It was shaped like a crescent moon, with a mark etched on the back.
She brushed it clean and stared.
The mark was the same as the one she saw glowing red on the stone last night.
This is connected to Rael.
She slipped it into her cloak, heart racing.
Not fear.
Not anger.
But confusion.
What was he doing there?
And why does everything feel like half a truth?
---
That night, back inside the chapel, Lysander offered her a blanket.
You're cold,he said.
She took it with a soft thanks,her voice low.
She didn't look him in the eyes.
And when Rael returned, she smiled like nothing was wrong.
But deep inside…
> She was watching.
Listening.
Waiting.
Because the more she remembered…
The more she knew…
One of them was lying.
---
💫 Author's Note:
> Chapter 14 leaves Aria with more questions than answers 🌒
A small memory, a small charm — but every piece is leading her closer to the truth.
💬 Question for you:
What would you do if someone you cared about started to feel… wrong?
🖤 Don't forget to add to your library if you're following Aria's slow and mysterious journey