She put away the parchment and walked to the laboratory door, then suddenly stopped.
She turned and looked Ian straight in the eye.
"Ian… thank you."
Her voice was soft, yet it carried a strange undertone.
Ian shook his head. "I'm getting something out of this too, so there's no need."
A smile touched Aidele's lips. As the morning light broke through the clouds, it illuminated a vitality that had long been absent from her face.
She pushed open the door and left quickly, the sound of her footsteps echoing down the corridor before fading away.
Gaga, on his shoulder, tilted its head, its silver-gray pupils reflecting Ian's calm profile.
"Ian," it said suddenly, its voice as clear and bright as a child's.
"Even if they take the potions, those people will still be weak. What's the use?"
Ian reached out and rubbed its small head.
The feathers were cool to the touch, imbued with the characteristic depth of shadow.
