—Nylis POV, ? years ago—
I stand in the middle of a long hallway, one hand pressed against my reddened cheek.
Across from Nylis stands his older brother, the Dahlveth crest displayed proudly on his clothes.
I glare at him through the strands of hair falling over my eyes.
"I did not even do anything!"
My voice rises before I can stop it. Anger spills out of me faster than I can control.
His expression darkens.
He raises his hand again.
I brace myself for another slap.
A small figure suddenly steps between us.
Velora, her small hands are wrapped around a glass of water.
My brother stares at her in disbelief.
"What are you doing?"
Velora says nothing.
She simply stands in front of me.
Her small back is the only thing separating me from him.
Her fingers tighten around the glass.
"Move."
Velora remains where she is.
He takes a step toward her.
She lifts the glass.
Without saying a single word, she throws the water directly into his face.
The entire hallway falls silent.
Water drips from my brother's hair, runs down his cheeks, and soaks the collar of his clothes.
He stares at her in complete shock.
Velora only lifts her chin and looks back at him.
My eyes widen.
She actually did it.
She threw water at him.
My brother's face twists with anger.
"You—"
He takes a step forward.
Before he can reach us, Velora suddenly turns around, grabs my hand, and runs.
"H-Hey!"
I nearly trip as she pulls me through the hallway.
"Velora, wait!"
She does not answer.
I look over my shoulder.
My brother grows smaller and smaller behind us as Velora continues dragging me away.
She does not stop until even the sound of his footsteps disappears.
Only when we reach an empty corridor does she finally slow down.
I bend forward slightly, breathing heavily, one hand still pressed against my cheek.
Velora turns toward me.
Her eyes settle on the red mark across my face.
She slowly reaches for my cheek.
I flinch.
Her hand freezes in the air.
For a moment, she simply looks at me.
She says nothing at all.
But somehow, the way she looks at me makes my chest feel strange, I look at her weirdly.
Velora lowers her hand and takes mine instead.
I blink at our joined hands.
"You really do not talk much, do you?"
She gives me no answer.
She simply turns around and begins walking again, gently pulling me along with her.
I follow.
For once, I do not know what else to say.
That night, I sit silently on the edge of Velora's bed.
The mark on my cheek is still faintly visible.
Velora stands in front of me, holding a blanket in both hands.
I watch her uncertainly.
"Why did you bring me here?"
She does not answer.
Instead, she pats the empty place beside her.
I point toward myself.
"You want me to sleep there?"
She pats the bed again.
I slowly lie down, awkwardly, watching her the entire time in case she suddenly changes her mind.
"You're quite weird you know, this isn't very noble-like."
Velora pulls the blanket over me and carefully tucks it around my shoulders.
I stare at her.
No one has ever done that for me before.
She climbs into bed beside me and pulls the remaining blanket over herself.
I continue staring.
Velora lets out a quiet scoff.
She reaches toward me and gently pats my head.
My entire body stiffens.
"What are you doing?"
She continues patting my hair.
I look at her in confusion.
"You know, I am not a child."
Her hand continues moving in the same slow rhythm.
Velora does not stop.
She keeps patting me.
Her hand moves gently across my hair again and again.
I open my mouth to continue explaining, but a yawn escapes instead.
My eyelids begin to feel heavy.
"This does not mean I needed your help…"
My voice grows quieter.
"Why're you doing this..."
The warmth of her hand remains on my head.
Before I realize it, everything goes dark.
When I open my eyes again, the room is quiet and dim.
"Huh?"
I blink slowly.
"I actually fell asleep?"
I turn my head.
Velora lies beside me still asleep.
"I actually fell asleep?"
Her eyes open little by little, still clouded with sleep.
A knock sounds against the door.
Velora suddenly slowly begins to wake up.
It slowly opens, revealing Velora's mother.
She pauses when she sees us lying beside each other beneath the blanket.
My body immediately stiffens.
I look at Velora and suddenly a smile begins to form across her face.
I freeze.
Her entire face seems to brighten, like the first morning light spreading across a field of crimson flowers.
For a moment, I forget about everything.
I can only stare at her.
That is the first time I ever see Velora smile like that.
The duchess smiles.
"My, what do we have here?"
Velora immediately sits up.
Her entire face brightens once again.
Without hesitation, she reaches both arms toward her mother.
The duchess walks closer, and Velora wraps her arms around her waist.
I stare at them.
Velora is usually so quiet.
She barely speaks.
Yet the moment she sees her mother, she presses herself against her as though she has been waiting for her all night.
Her mother laughs softly and strokes her crimson hair.
"Did you made a friend with the young lord?"
Velora nods eagerly.
The duchess looks toward me.
I lower my gaze, suddenly unsure of what to do with my hands.
A gentle palm settles on top of my head.
I freeze.
"I greet the Duchess."
I slowly look up.
There is no anger in her expression.
Velora suddenly pulls the duchess.
"Oh you want me to join you?"
The duchess chuckles.
Without a second thought, I'm suddenly laying down in bed once again in between them.
Soon, the three of us lie together beneath the same blanket.
Velora rests between us, one arm wrapped around her mother while her other hand holds the edge of my sleeve.
Her mother gently strokes both of our hair.
I continue watching Velora.
Her eyes slowly close, but the faint smile remains on her face.
I feel my own lips begin to curve upward.
"Uh.. are we going to sleep again?"
For the first time in a long while, I fall asleep without being afraid of what might happen when I wake up.
What begins as a single night quietly becomes a habit.
And every time, I lie down beside her.
Night after night, that quiet habit follows us throughout our childhood.