The night settled deeper over the academy.
The balcony doors stayed open.
Cool air slipped into the room, brushing lightly against the curtains.
Lunivara remained by the railing a moment longer.
Then slowly—
she stepped back inside.
The room felt quieter now.
Not empty.
Just… still.
She sat at the edge of the bed.
Her gaze lowered, unfocused—
but her thoughts were not.
[So he's staying.]
Thalric.
Not a passing merchant.
Not someone who appears and disappears.
A shop.
A fixed place.
"…That makes things simpler," she murmured.
If she ever needed to go back, she wouldn't have to search for him again.
No guessing.
No waiting.
Just… go.
Her fingers traced lightly along the fabric of her sleeve.
Then her thoughts shifted.
[And Kai…]
A brief pause.
She leaned back slightly.
"…He's not part of it," she said quietly.
Not dismissive.
Just sorting things out.
[Neither of them are.]
They weren't tied to her downfall.
Not like Cedric.
Not like Velarisse.
They weren't the reason everything collapsed before.
So—
there was no need to keep thinking about them.
"…If I see them again, I'll just talk normally."
Simple.
No distance.
No attachment.
Just… people.
Her gaze drifted toward the balcony again.
[But…]
A small pause.
[He didn't show up today.]
Kai.
No running footsteps.
No sudden trouble.
No sharp red eyes cutting through the crowd.
Nothing.
"…I hope he's okay."
The words slipped out softer than she expected.
She frowned slightly at herself.
"…Why am I even thinking about that…"
A small exhale.
[Because I know what happens to him.]
That was the difference.
The memory came back clearly.
Not blurred.
Not distant.
The original story.
A crowded street.
A theft.
Her.
[He stole from me.]
And she didn't hesitate.
"…I had him locked up."
Cold.
Immediate.
Final.
No questions asked.
Then—
Velarisse.
[She understood him.]
[She let him go.]
And Lunivara—
"…I got angry."
Not just angry.
Worse.
[It became personal.]
That moment didn't stay small.
It spread.
Into arguments.
Into humiliation.
Into everything that followed.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
Then slowly—
relaxed.
"…That won't happen this time."
Not forced.
Not emotional.
Just… clear.
If she met him again—
she wouldn't repeat that mistake.
No punishment.
No pride.
Just… choice.
She leaned back, supporting herself with her hands.
The ceiling came into view.
Quiet.
Unchanging.
"…I'm not scared anymore."
A small pause.
The words felt strange—
but true.
[The story isn't fixed.]
[It already changed once.]
She closed her eyes briefly.
[So I don't have to follow it.]
Silence settled again.
But her thoughts didn't stop—
they moved forward.
Not rushed.
Not scattered.
Just… building.
[If I'm really going to leave…]
A slight shift in her expression.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
Just consideration.
[Then I can't just decide it in the moment.]
Running away blindly—
would only put her in a worse position.
No protection.
No resources.
No plan.
"…That would be stupid."
She opened her eyes again.
[The original Lunivara never thought that far.]
She acted.
Reacted.
But never prepared.
"…I won't make that mistake."
This time—
she would think ahead.
Slowly.
Properly.
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
[If I leave the capital…]
Where would she go?
She didn't know the surrounding lands well enough.
Not in detail.
Only names.
Not distances.
Not conditions.
"…I don't even know what's out there."
That was a problem.
Not urgent.
But important.
"…Then I should start there."
A simple conclusion.
Not dramatic.
Just… logical.
[Understand the world first.]
Then decide where to go.
Not the other way around.
A faint breath left her lips.
"…A map…"
Something small.
But useful.
Something she could look at—
study—
understand.
"…I'll get one tomorrow."
The decision settled easily.
No pressure.
Just the next step.
She stood up.
The room felt clearer now.
Not because everything was solved—
but because it made sense.
Lunivara walked to the balcony once more.
Just for a moment.
The night air brushed against her again.
Cool.
Steady.
"…One step at a time."
Then—
she turned back inside.
This time—
without hesitation.
End of Chapter 32