The camp settled into night — fires banked low, sentries on the ridges.
Miko and Kael took the late watch — sitting on a flat rock overlooking the basin.
The stars were sharp — no auroras tonight, just cold black and silver.
Miko wrapped her arms around her knees.
Kael sat beside her — shadows dimmed, but present.
They didn't speak for a long time.
Then Miko broke the silence.
"Do you ever think about… before?"
Kael looked at her.
"Before what?"
"Before the seal.
Before the academy.
Before… all of this."
Kael stared out at the valley.
"Sometimes."
Miko waited.
He continued — voice quiet.
"I was thirteen when Lirien died.
I was supposed to be in her class that day.
I skipped it.
Said I was sick."
Miko looked at him.
"You weren't?"
Kael shook his head.
"I just… didn't want to go.
I felt something was wrong."
Miko reached over — took his hand.
"It wasn't your fault."
Kael's grip tightened.
"I know.
But I still see it.
Every time I close my eyes.
The rift opening.
Her shadows turning on her.
The way she looked at me — right before the end.
Like she knew I'd live.
And she wouldn't."
Miko felt tears prick her eyes.
Kael looked at her.
"I swore I'd never let anyone else carry that weight.
Then you showed up."
Miko laughed — soft.
"Bad luck."
Kael's voice was low.
"No.
Good luck."
Miko stared.
Kael met her eyes.
"You're the first person who didn't run from me.
Or from the seal.
You stayed.
Even when it tried to kill me through you."
Miko swallowed.
"I almost didn't."
Kael shook his head.
"But you did."
Silence.
Then Miko spoke — barely a whisper.
"I don't want to lose you."
Kael's hand tightened on hers.
"You won't."
Miko leaned against him — head on his shoulder.
He wrapped an arm around her — careful.
They sat like that — watching the stars.
The seal stayed quiet.
For the first time — Miko felt like it was… resting.
Not waiting.
Just… resting.
To be continued…