Chapter 9: Beneath the Surface

Weeks after Sienna’s departure, Calen sits in his favorite corner of Aeris’s public library. He’s buried in one of his books, hoping to distract himself from the lingering ache of losing Sienna. As he turns a page, a familiar voice interrupts.

“Calen? Is that you?”

He looks up to find Livra standing a few feet away, clutching a stack of old books. Her appearance is modest, but her eyes carry the same lively curiosity he remembers.

“Livra?” Calen blinks in disbelief. “I thought you’d left Aeris.”

Livra smiles faintly, her expression unreadable. “I did. But it seems I can’t stay away for long. May I sit?”

What begins as a brief, serendipitous meeting quickly turns into something more. They agree to catch up over coffee in a nearby café, where the scent of roasted beans mingles with the gentle noise of conversation. At first, their words were tentative, confined to the surface—talk of books, the city, and the festivals of the past.

But as the hours pass, Livra begins to share pieces of her life she’s never revealed before: her love for old myths, her frustration with Aeris’s bureaucracy, and the loneliness that sometimes shadows her sharp wit. Calen, in turn, opens up about his struggles since Sienna left and his ongoing investigation into the events of the festival.

When they part ways that evening, it feels natural to promise another meeting.

Over the next few weeks, Calen and Livra fall into an easy rhythm. Their meetings grow more frequent, each encounter peeling back another layer of their personalities. They roam the bustling streets of Aeris, discussing everything from literature to philosophy to their shared frustrations with the world around them.

One afternoon, as they sit on a bench overlooking the city, Livra teases him about his relentless focus on his investigation.

“You’re like a dog with a bone,” she says, laughing. “Don’t you ever let your mind rest?”

Calen smirks, leaning back. “I’m trying. Spending time with you helps.”

Livra’s cheeks flush, but she doesn’t look away. Instead, she reaches into her bag and pulls out a small notebook.

“I’ve been working on something,” she says, her tone hesitant. “It’s… silly, really, but I wanted to show you.”

Calen takes the notebook and flips through the pages, his brow furrowing in concentration. Inside are sketches of people, places, and moments—her impressions of Aeris, rendered in delicate pencil strokes.

“This is incredible,” he says, his voice full of admiration. “You’re so talented, Livra.”

Her smile is shy, but her eyes shine with pride. “Thanks. I guess I just see the world differently than others.”

As the days pass, their connection deepens. Livra begins to notice the small details about Calen that make her heart ache in ways she’s never felt before—the way his brow furrows when he’s lost in thought, the warmth in his voice when he talks about his favorite books, the quiet determination that drives him.

Calen, too, finds himself drawn to her in ways he can’t explain. Livra’s sharp intellect and understated kindness awaken something in him that he hadn’t felt even with Sienna. There’s a comfort in her presence, a sense of being truly seen.

One evening, after a long walk through the city, they find themselves standing outside Calen’s small apartment. The air was heavy with unspoken words, their gazes locked.

“Calen,” Livra begins, her voice trembling slightly. “I don’t know what this is between us, but… it feels important.”

He steps closer, his hand brushing hers. “It does.”

For a moment, they stand in silence, the weight of their feelings filling the space between them. Then, with a tentative but undeniable certainty, Calen leans in, and their lips meet in a kiss that felt like the culmination of all the unspoken moments they’ve shared.

From that night on, their relationship shifts. They were no longer just friends or confidants—they were something more, though neither dared to put a name to it.

Livra begins spending nights at Calen’s apartment, her laughter filling the quiet spaces that once felt so empty. They cook together, read side by side, and share stories late into the night. Calen finds himself wondering how he ever lived without her, while Livra clings to these moments, knowing they are fleeting.

But despite her growing love for him, Livra can’t bring herself to tell him everything. She skirts around the darker truths of her past.

One night, as they lie entwined on the couch, Calen traces lazy circles on her arm. “You know, Livra, I didn’t think I could feel this way again.”

Livra had tucked herself close to Calen, her head resting lightly against his shoulder, as they shared the warmth of a thick blanket. The quiet felt natural between them, the kind of silence that didn’t demand to be filled.

In a careless glipmse, Livra looked to Calen’s shelf with countless books. She noticed that it was some space between a couple of them, and realized that the number fifteen of some saga was missing. Eventually, Livra’s curiosity got the better of her.

She shifted slightly, looking up at him. “You’ve never talked about her. Why did it end?”

Calen frowned, caught off guard. “Eh? Who are you talking about?”

“Your girlfriend, the one that’s probably keeping your book.” She said, her voice steady but probing.

“Girlfriend? I never said I had one.”

Livra let out a soft laugh, one of those knowing, almost exasperated sounds. “Oh, come on. It was obvious. The first night we spent together, during the festival—your apartment was full of things that clearly belonged to a woman. You’re not exactly subtle, Calen. You’re terrible at hiding things. And I know how you are. You hate lying, but if you can avoid saying something awkward, you will. You don’t like uncomfortable conversations, and you just… hope everything works out by itself.” She paused, her tone softening. “Honestly, it’s one of the things I like about you. Your little moments of carelessness—they’re so different from how serious and worried you are most of the time.”

Calen sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Alright, fine. Sorry for not mentioning her. But just so we’re clear—she wasn’t my girlfriend. Sienna… she made that clear from the start. We were just… getting to know each other.”

Livra tilted her head slightly, studying him with those sharp, perceptive eyes of hers. “But you loved her, didn’t you?”

He hesitated, his gaze fixed on Livra’s long hair. “…Yeah. Or at least I thought I did. Now? I’m not sure what to think.”

Livra didn’t speak right away, letting the quiet stretch between them again before finally breaking it. “And what happened? Why did it end? I mean, ever since I started seeing you again, her things were gone from your place. Even the drawing I made of you isn’t hidden anymore. So obviously, you’re not seeing her. What happened?”

For a long moment, Calen didn’t answer. His mind went back to those last days with Sienna, the way things had unraveled so quietly, almost without effort. “Nothing dramatic. She decided to go back to Calla Veil. She’s kind of the big deal there, you know? I always thought she’d end up staying in Aeris because she’s so ambitious. I really believed we could make it work, somehow. But we didn’t. I don’t think she’s coming back.”

Livra leaned back slightly, her eyes shadowed with something he couldn’t quite name. “I see. And… if she does come back? What happens then?”

Her voice was soft, but it carried a weight that made him turn to look at her. There was a flicker of something raw and vulnerable in her expression, something that tugged at his chest. “What do you mean? I’m getting to know you now.”

“That’s just it,” she said, her voice trembling ever so slightly. “We’re getting to know each other. But… we’re not anything more. I… I love you, Calen. I don’t want to lose you, but I don’t know if I can compete with what you felt for her.”

Her words hit him harder than he expected. Part of him had known this moment would come, but he still wasn’t ready for it. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “I… I’m happy with how things are now. I don’t want anything to change between us, Livra. And if things keep going like this, I’ll probably want to be with you. But… it’s still so recent with Sienna. I can’t lie and say she never crosses my mind. Even so, I want to be with you.”

Livra’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her lips pulling into a shaky smile. “It’s fine. It’s my fault for asking. I already knew this… deep down.”

She wiped her eyes quickly, letting out a soft, nervous laugh to break the tension. “Maybe I’ll try something new today. Borrow one of your strategies.”

Calen tilted his head, frowning. “What do you mean?”

“I’ll drop the subject and pretend everything’s fine,” she said with a bittersweet smile. “I’ll wait for it all to magically work itself out. Who knows? Maybe it’ll work this time.”

Her words stung more than she likely intended, but before he could say anything, she leaned into him again, tucking herself close and closing her eyes. The moment felt fragile, a delicate balance between affection, fear, and truths left unsaid.