Things didn't change overnight.
They change… in the details.
In the way people stop talking when you walk by.
In how some look down.
And others don't.
Adara noticed it since morning.
It wasn't fear.
Not yet.
It was something more unsettling:
Interest.
—
—…they say it's not normal…
The voice trailed off as she and Seryna turned the corner.
Immediate silence.
Seryna didn't even look up.
She kept walking as if nothing had happened.
—Good—she said.
Adara frowned.
—Good?
—If they're talking about you—Seryna replied—it's because you're not invisible anymore.
Adara crossed her arms.
—Or because they don't trust you.
Seryna smiled, tilting her head.
"It's exactly the same here."
That... wasn't reassuring.
The training yard wasn't empty.
And that was already strange.
Three people were waiting.
They weren't dressed like Valoria.
Their clothes were more refined, more... calculated. Every detail measured.
Caelum was with them.
Talking.
When Adara and Seryna entered, the conversation stopped.
Immediately.
The three of them looked at her.
Not with curiosity.
With intent.
One of them—tall, cold gaze, impeccable posture—took a step forward.
"So you're..."
He didn't finish the sentence.
There was no need.
Adara held his gaze without moving.
"It depends on who's asking."
Seryna let out a small, underhand laugh.
Caelum didn't intervene.
He just watched.
Evaluating.
"Interesting," the man said. "I thought you'd be more... quiet."
"I thought you'd be more direct," Adara replied.
A tense second.
No one moved.
Then the man smiled slightly.
"House Aurelion," he said finally. "We've come to see exactly what Valoria has integrated."
Adara didn't react to the name.
But she noted it.
"Then look closely," she replied. "That's what everyone else is doing."
The second man spoke, more tersely:
"Observing isn't always enough."
Adara took a step forward.
"Then don't just observe."
A pause.
"Try."
Complete silence.
Seryna stopped smiling.
Now she was interested.
Caelum intervened before she could climb:
"You didn't come here to fight."
The first one didn't take his eyes off Adara.
"Not yet."
That hung in the air.
Heavy.
Real.
"
"
The tension didn't go away.
It stayed.
And followed her to the table.
That night, the atmosphere was different.
Quieter.
More aware.
Karan was there.
But he wasn't the same as before.
He didn't look at her the same way.
And when he did… it was brief.
Measured.
Caelum placed a scroll on the table.
"The Houses are already reacting."
Valerice took it slowly.
"Aurelion always moves quickly."
"And he always tries first," Seryna added.
Karan spoke without raising his voice:
"And Obsidian?"
Silence.
Valerice looked up.
—Obsidian isn't moving.
That didn't reassure anyone.
Adara frowned slightly.
—Why?
Valerice looked directly at her.
—Because when they do…
A pause.
—It's too late.
The message was clear.
Very clear.
—
That night, Adara couldn't sleep.
Not out of fear.
Out of something… strange.
She sat up in bed, breathing slowly.
Everything was silent.
But inside her—
no.
She placed her hand on her chest.
Her heartbeat was normal.
But the feeling…
wasn't.
She closed her eyes for a second.
And she saw it.
Water.
Dark.
Still.
Bottomless.
She opened her eyes abruptly.
Her breathing became faster.
Just a second.
Then she regained control.
"Control..." she whispered.
The feeling dissipated.
But it didn't disappear completely.
The door opened.
Karan entered.
He stopped when he saw her awake.
"Aren't you asleep?"
Adara shook her head.
"Not yet."
Karan slowly removed his gloves.
Silence.
Then he spoke:
"Other Houses came today."
It wasn't a question.
Adara nodded.
"Aurelion."
Karan exhaled.
"Quick."
"And curious," she added.
Karan finally looked at her.
"And you?"
Adara held his gaze.
"I didn't hide."
Just a second.
Karan nodded.
"Good."
But he didn't smile.
She noticed.
"Are you still upset?" she asked.
Karan hesitated.
Then he was honest:
"I'm... adjusting."
Adara looked down for a moment.
"I'm not excluding you."
Karan took a step toward her.
"No."
Another pause.
"But you're not letting me in completely either."
Silence.
That hurt more because it was true.
Adara didn't answer.
She didn't know how.
Karan moved a little closer.
"Just be careful."
Adara looked at him.
"I am."
Karan shook his head gently.
"Not with them."
His voice lowered.
"With you."
That made her tense.
But she didn't answer.
Karan took her hand.
Gently.
Firmly.
As always.
But something had changed.
Very little.
But enough.
—
And outside of Valoria…
in the streets where no one looked twice—
a name began to be repeated.
In hushed tones.
As a warning.
Not as admiration.
Adara.
The elf.
The one from the lake.
—
And the most dangerous thing…
is that it was no longer a secret.