The palace garden was quiet that morning — too quiet.
Illyen didn't know why he had gone there alone. Maybe it was the strange feeling he couldn't shake off. Maybe it was because the air in the training hall felt too heavy after everything that happened.
He walked slowly along the stone path, his boots brushing against the wet grass. The small blue ribbon was still hidden in his cloak. He didn't know why he kept it. It was just a piece of cloth, but when he held it, his chest felt… strange.
Like something lost. Or something forgotten.
He stopped in front of a big old tree with rough, twisted bark. It looked like it had been there forever.
Illyen reached out to touch it — not knowing why. Maybe he hoped it would calm the noise in his heart.
But before his fingers touched the tree, someone spoke behind him.
"You shouldn't be here."
Illyen turned quickly.
Cael was standing there. His hair was messy, and he wasn't wearing his royal clothes — just a plain shirt and boots. His eyes were calm, but Illyen felt like they were hiding something deep inside.
"I could say the same to you," Illyen said. "Aren't you supposed to be in the palace, looking important?"
Cael didn't smile. His eyes dropped to Illyen's cloak — as if he saw the ribbon hidden there.
"Not always."
There was a long silence. Not awkward. Just… full of something they couldn't name.
"Were you following me?" Illyen asked.
"No," Cael said. "But I knew you'd come here."
Illyen frowned. "How could you know that?"
Cael didn't answer right away. He stepped closer, looking at Illyen as if he was trying to remember something.
"You always came here," Cael said softly.
Illyen blinked. "What?"
Cael looked away. "Nothing."
Illyen crossed his arms. "Why do you keep looking at me like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you know me."
Cael's eyes didn't waver. "Don't I?"
Illyen's chest tightened.
"No," he said after a moment. "You don't."
But even as he said it… something in him felt unsure.
Cael turned toward the tree and placed his hand on the bark.
"There used to be a swing here," he said. "Ropes tied between those branches."
Illyen narrowed his eyes. "You've been here before?"
Cael didn't say anything.
And suddenly — Illyen saw something in his mind.
A flash of golden light. A hand catching his. Laughter in the wind. Someone swinging from the tree — someone with blue eyes.
Then it disappeared.
He shook his head quickly. "This place gives me a headache."
Cael didn't move. "Maybe it's trying to remind you."
Illyen stepped back. "Remind me of what?"
Cael looked at him, quiet and serious.
"That once," he said, "you used to smile when you saw me."
Then he turned and walked away.
Illyen stood under the tree, heart beating too fast, fingers clutching the ribbon tightly in his hand.