Mina almost skipped breakfast.
Not because she wasn't hungry. Because she'd woken late and didn't want to rush. She stood in her room for a moment, deciding whether five extra minutes of calm mattered more than routine.
They did.
She went anyway.
The dining hall was half full. Early staff, late staff, people who worked odd hours and didn't care what the clock said as long as the work got done. Mina took a tray, nodded to a familiar face behind the counter, and sat near the window.
Cora waved from across the room, mouth already full. Mina waved back and smiled before she could stop herself.
She ate slowly.
That alone still felt like a small rebellion.
After breakfast, the day moved the way days at Helix always did. Quietly. Efficiently. She checked assignments, logged confirmations, resolved two minor inconsistencies that would've become problems if left alone.
No drama. No tension.
By late evening, her eyes felt tired in the way that came from focus, not stress. She signed out and decided, on impulse, not to go straight back to her room.
The garden paths were open to staff during certain hours. Not many people used them.
Mina stepped outside.
The night air was cooler than she expected. Not cold. Just crisp. The kind that made you breathe deeper without noticing.
She followed the gravel path, hands tucked into her sleeves, shoulders loosening with every step. She hadn't realized how much of her day she spent braced until she wasn't anymore.
That was when she saw the dog.
Large. Pale-coated. Sitting patiently near the bench like she belonged there.
Mina slowed instinctively.
"Hey," she said softly, crouching a little. "Where did you come from?"
The dog's ears perked. Her tail thumped once against the ground.
Mina smiled.
She reached out carefully, palm open. The dog leaned into it without hesitation, pressing her head into Mina's hand like they'd already agreed on something.
"You're very friendly," Mina murmured.
"She usually is."
The voice came from behind her.
Mina straightened immediately, hand dropping away as she turned.
He stood a few steps back, coat unbuttoned, posture relaxed in a way she'd never seen inside Helix. She recognized him instantly.
Eidolon Circle.
Her spine straightened before she could help it.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I didn't realize—"
"It's fine," he said. "She likes people."
The dog sat back on her haunches, completely unconcerned with hierarchy.
Mina hesitated. "She's yours?"
"Yes."
There was no flourish to it. No pride. Just fact.
"I didn't know animals were allowed out here," Mina said.
"They are," he replied. "Just not encouraged."
That made sense.
Mina nodded, then stepped back to give space. "I should probably—"
"You don't have to leave," he said, calmly. "She won't move if she thinks you're going."
As if on cue, the dog leaned against Mina's leg.
Mina laughed before she could stop herself. A small sound, surprised.
He watched her, not intensely, not openly. Just enough to notice.
"She doesn't usually do that," he said.
"Maybe she knows I won't steal her," Mina offered.
A pause.
Then, faintly, he smiled.
It wasn't charming. It wasn't practiced.
It was brief and real.
They walked a few steps together, the dog trotting between them like this had been planned.
Mina didn't know what to say. He didn't rush to fill the silence.
"That's unusual," she said finally.
"What is?"
"This," Mina gestured vaguely. "Talking. Not about work."
He glanced at her. "Is that uncomfortable?"
She considered it. "No. Just… unexpected."
"Good," he said. "Unexpected is usually more honest."
They stopped at the curve where the path bent back toward the residences.
The dog sat.
"I've seen you here before," Mina said, then winced slightly. "I mean—not like watching. Just… around."
"I know," he replied.
She blinked. "You do?"
"You're consistent," he said. "People who are consistent tend to be visible."
That wasn't a compliment. But it wasn't criticism either.
She absorbed it quietly.
The air shifted. Not heavy. Just present.
"I should head back," Mina said.
"Yes," he agreed. "It's cooling down."
She nodded. "Good night."
"Good night."
No name. No implication.
She walked away feeling strangely steady.
Behind her, the garden remained quiet.
And for the first time since arriving at Helix, Mina didn't feel like she was being measured.
She felt like she'd simply been… seen.