Her heart sank at the sight of him, and a frown tugged at her lips as she took in Kael's troubled expression.
"Kael!" she called out.
Her voice cut through his daze, snapping him back to the present. His eyes lifted, brightening slightly as they found her standing in the tent entrance.
He'd been so lost in thought that he hadn't even noticed her arrival.
"Oh, it's you, Lina…" he murmured, his features softening, though his gaze quickly darted away. He didn't want to worry her, so he turned his face slightly, as if to shield his emotions.
"Thank you for bringing the food," he added, his tone stiff, still fumbling to mask his unease.
"You don't look well," she said, her voice gentle but laced with concern. "Is something bothering you?"
"No. It's nothing, Lina. Nothing is troubling me," he replied, though his evasion was plain.
This was Kael—unchanged since childhood. He was the kind of person who would rather carry his burdens alone than impose them on anyone else.
