The noise of the stadium slowly faded as night took over the kingdom. After their victory, everything felt calmer, but not lighter. The tension of the tournament still lingered in the air.
The organizers had arranged a house for them to stay in.
It was large, well-built, and quiet, far from the noise of the crowd. The kind of place meant for rest.
But not everyone was at peace.
Inside, Emily was already relaxed, lying back like the match meant nothing. May was quieter than usual, thinking. Hena stayed close to Yash, her presence calm as always.
Igna sat alone for a while, replaying the fight in his mind.
But someone else was different.
Sele.
She sat outside, away from everyone, under the dim light of the night. Her posture was straight, her expression calm—
But something about her felt off.
Yash noticed.
He didn't say anything to the others.
He simply walked out.
And sat beside her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The night was quiet.
Only the soft sound of the wind moved around them.
Sele didn't look at him.
But she knew he was there.
Sele: "I lost."
Her voice was calm.
But it carried weight.
Yash didn't interrupt.
She continued.
Sele: "I was the first one taken out."
A pause.
Sele: "I couldn't even react properly."
Her grip tightened slightly.
Sele: "If this was real… I'd be dead."
Silence followed.
Yash looked forward, not at her.
Yash: "You're thinking wrong."
Sele's eyes shifted slightly.
Yash continued calmly.
Yash: "You weren't weak."
A pause.
Yash: "You were targeted."
Sele didn't respond.
Yash explained.
Yash: "They knew you were the biggest threat."
Another pause.
Yash: "That's why they removed you first."
Sele lowered her gaze slightly.
Sele: "That doesn't change the result."
Yash shook his head slightly.
Yash: "It changes everything."
Silence.
Yash: "A real assassin isn't someone who wins every fight."
A pause.
Yash: "It's someone the enemy fears the most."
Sele stayed quiet.
Yash's voice remained steady.
Yash: "You forced them to change their entire strategy."
Another pause.
Yash: "Three people."
Yash: "All focused on one thing."
Yash: "You."
That truth settled slowly.
Sele didn't speak.
But she listened.
Yash continued.
Yash: "That's not failure."
A small pause.
Yash: "That's impact."
The wind passed quietly between them.
Yash: "And next time…"
Another pause.
Yash: "…you won't fall that easily."
Sele's grip loosened slightly.
Her breathing steadied.
She didn't smile.
But something changed.
A quiet shift.
A soft release of tension she didn't even realize she was holding.
Sele: "Then I won't."
Yash nodded once.
They stayed there in silence.
But this time—
It wasn't heavy.
It felt… different.
After a while, Sele slowly leaned closer.
Without saying anything, she rested her head on Yash's lap.
For a moment, she stayed still.
Then—
Tears slipped from her eyes.
Not loud.
Not broken.
Just quiet.
Yash didn't move.
He didn't stop her.
He just let her be.
Those tears weren't from sadness.
They weren't from regret.
They came from something else—
Relief.
Overwhelm.
Something new she had never allowed herself to feel.
Her grip on his clothes tightened slightly as she closed her eyes.
And slowly—
She fell asleep.
Still holding on.
Yash looked down at her for a moment, then shifted slightly to make her more comfortable.
The night stayed silent around them.
But for the first time—
Sele looked peaceful.