The next day—
everything shifted again.
Because now—
Aeris wasn't just surviving.
She was changing.
And Kael noticed immediately.
"…You're different."
She didn't look at him.
"…You're observant."
A pause.
Then—
he stepped closer.
"Someone told you."
"…I found out."
Not entirely true.
But not a lie either.
Silence.
Then—
"Vaelith nor kae…"
Literal meaning:
"You're stepping into my world."
Real meaning:
"There's no way out for you now."
Aeris met his gaze.
"…Then don't slow me down."
That—
caught him off guard.
Just slightly.
And for the first time—
he respected it.