Chapter 43: Farewell

The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the hospital corridor as Calen approached Sienna’s room. The events of the past days weighed on him, and now, he had to face Sienna—someone who had suffered as much as anyone, if not more.

When he opened the door, the sight of her struck him. Sienna lay in bed, her fiery spirit dimmed but not extinguished. Her face bore bruises, remnants of the vicious assault by Korran and Tessa. Yet, even in her weakened state, she gave him a faint smile, as if seeing him alone was a balm for her pain.

“Calen,” she greeted softly, her voice thinner than he remembered but no less warm.

He walked over to her bedside, pulling up a chair. “Sienna,” he replied, his tone carrying the gratitude and guilt he felt. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I fought a mountain and lost,” she joked, though her wince betrayed the truth. “But I’ll live.”

Calen nodded, hesitating for a moment before speaking again. “I wanted to thank you—for standing up for Livra. For trying to protect her when... when everything went wrong.”

Sienna’s smile faltered. She looked away, unable to meet his gaze. “Don’t thank me, Calen. I don’t deserve it.”

“What are you talking about? You nearly—”

“Got her killed,” Sienna interrupted, her voice tight with self-recrimination. “If I hadn’t been so consumed by my jealousy, none of it would have happened. I—I betrayed everything I was supposed to stand for because of how I felt about you.”

Calen opened his mouth to protest, but Sienna pressed on. Her eyes, glistening with unshed tears, finally met his.

“Calen, I love you,” she confessed, her voice trembling but resolute. “And not just some fleeting infatuation. It’s the kind of love that digs into your soul, that makes you do stupid, reckless things because you can’t imagine life without that person. That’s what you are to me.”

Her hands gripped the blanket tightly as she spoke, her emotions spilling over. “I know you don’t feel the same. I’ve known for a while. But I needed to say it, one last time, even if it makes me a fool.”

Calen’s expression softened. He reached out, taking her hand in his. “Sienna, you’re not a fool. You’re brave, strong, and one of the most remarkable people I’ve ever known.”

The hope that flickered in her eyes was extinguished by the words that followed.

“But I can’t give you what you’re asking for,” he said gently. “I care about you deeply, but not in the way you deserve. I’m sorry.”

Sienna closed her eyes, a single tear escaping down her cheek. She nodded, as if she had expected this, yet the pain was no less acute. “I had to try,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

A heavy silence settled between them before she spoke again, her tone steadier. “I’ve decided to leave Aeris,” she announced.

“What?” Calen looked at her, startled.

“I don’t think Magistrate Drena will forgive me for what I did, and honestly, I don’t blame her. And staying here, watching you from a distance, knowing I can never have you... I can’t do it, Calen. I’m going back to Cala Veil. I’ll manage my family’s estates, try to find some kind of peace there.”

Calen’s heart ached at her words. “Sienna... I’ll miss you. You’ve been a part of my life for so long. If you ever need anything, anything at all, I’ll come. You know that, right?”

She smiled faintly, though her tears continued to fall. “I know. And I’ll remember the good times, Calen. The times when we laughed, when we fought for the last beer, when we stayed up late just talking while looking to each others eyes, our trip to Daliran. I’ll hold onto those.”

He stood, leaning down to pull her into a deep embrace. Her arms wrapped around him tightly, as if letting go was the hardest thing she’d ever done. “Take care of yourself, Sienna,” he murmured.

As he turned to leave, he was stopped by a sudden tug on his arm. She embraced him from behind, her head resting against his back. “I love you,” she said, her voice breaking. “Don’t turn around, please. I don’t want you to see me like this.”

But Calen couldn’t obey. He turned, and before he could say anything, she rose quickly, pressing her lips to his in a fleeting, bittersweet kiss.

When she pulled away, there was a small, almost defiant smile on her tear-streaked face. “I needed that,” she said, her voice trembling. “One last kiss.”

Calen stared at her, his heart heavy with the weight of her emotions.

“Now get out of here, you idiot,” Sienna said, her tone turning brusque, though the tears in her green eyes betrayed her true feelings.

Calen hesitated for a moment before nodding. He left, the door closing softly behind him, leaving Sienna alone with her heartbreak—and the memories of a love they shared, but at different times and paces.

As Calen left the hospital, the sun had begun its descent, casting Aeris in a golden glow that softened the city’s sharp edges. He made his way toward the lookout, the place where he and Livra had first spoken on the night of the Aeris festival. The memory of that evening felt like a lifetime ago, yet the thought of it brought a flicker of warmth to his weary heart.

The lookout was perched high above the central lake of Aeris, offering a panoramic view that could take anyone’s breath away. The lake itself was a vast, shimmering mirror, reflecting the hues of the setting sun. Its surface rippled gently with the wind, turning gold, crimson, and indigo as the light shifted. Surrounding the lake, the city unfolded like a living mosaic.

To the west lay the heart of the city, a labyrinth of streets that twisted and turned between modern, angular buildings made of glass and light-reflecting metals. Dominating the skyline was the prism-shaped tower of the administration of Operientes Solem, its massive glass windows catching the fading sunlight like a beacon. It stood as a symbol of Aeris’s ambition and governance, its silhouette stark against the horizon.

To the east, dense forests stretched outward, their dark green canopy swaying with the breeze. Beyond them, the LCC loomed like an industrial fortress, its intricate network of platforms and machinery sprawling across the lower reaches of the island. It was connected to Aeris’s underbelly, where the levicita’s mysterious power kept the floating island aloft.

The lookout itself was a simple yet elegant structure. A wide, semi-circular platform with ornate railings made of wrought iron stood at its edge, providing an unobstructed view of the splendor below. Small lanterns lined the path to the lookout, their warm glow flickering as the night approached.

Calen’s steps slowed as he reached the platform, his breath catching when he saw Livra standing there.

She was facing the lake, her figure bathed in the amber light of dusk. Her long black hair flowed past her waist, the strands swaying gently in the breeze like a silken curtain. It gleamed in the fading sunlight, as if the very fabric of the evening had woven itself into her tresses. She wore her usual white dress, a garment so elegant and delicate that it seemed to belong to a realm of fantasy rather than reality. The fabric clung gracefully to her slender frame, flowing outward at her feet like the petals of a blooming flower.

Her profile was illuminated against the golden horizon, each feature as though sculpted by an artist’s hand. Her skin, pale and luminous, seemed untouched by imperfection. Her delicate jawline framed full lips, which were slightly parted, as if she were caught in a moment of deep thought. Her dark eyes, though distant and contemplative, carried a depth that could rival the vastness of the lake before her.

Livra shifted slightly, the motion effortless and graceful, like the rustling of leaves in a gentle breeze. The movement made her dress ripple, catching the light and making her appear almost ethereal. She placed a hand on the railing, her fingers long and elegant, as though she were communing silently with the world around her.

Calen stood for a moment, watching her in silence, struck by the sheer beauty of the scene. It was as if the entirety of Aeris had paused to honor her presence.

She must have sensed him, for she turned slowly, her gaze meeting his. A faint smile played on her lips, though her expression remained thoughtful, almost melancholy. “You’re here,” she said softly, her voice carried to him by the breeze.

Calen stepped forward, his heart tightening at the sight of her. “You said you had something important to tell me.”

Livra nodded, glancing back at the lake. “I thought this would be the right place for it. It’s... where everything started, after all.”

Her words carried a weight that made Calen’s chest tighten further. 

Livra turned her gaze back to the shimmering lake, her voice soft as she began, “The magistrate Ilara Drena has offered me a position in Operientes Solem.”

Calen’s eyes lit up with a genuine smile. “Livra, that’s incredible! You’ll do amazing things—”

But Livra didn’t share his enthusiasm. Her smile faded, replaced by a somber expression as she looked down at her hands. “There’s more,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Calen’s smile faltered. “What is it?”

“She wants me to be part of a diplomatic team,” Livra explained, her fingers tightening on the railing. “I would work in the Earthlands, helping to rebuild the trust between them and Aeris.” Her gaze turned distant, reflecting on the weight of the choice before her. “It feels... like the right thing to do. Aelith Shore is without a leader now that my father is gone. Returning to the Earthlands feels like my duty, like the only way I can truly honor him.”

Calen opened his mouth to respond, his impulsive nature urging him to speak, but before a single word escaped, Livra stepped closer. With the swiftness and grace that defined her, she reached out and pressed a delicate finger against his lips, silencing him.

“Before you say anything you might regret, let me stop you,” Livra whispered, her voice wavering as tears glistened in her dark eyes. “You’re so selfless, Calen, always putting others ahead of yourself. I know what you’re about to say. You’ll tell me you’ll come with me, that you’ll leave everything behind to be by my side.” She shook her head, her voice breaking as a single tear rolled down her cheek. “But you can’t do that, Calen. You’ve built something here, and Aeris needs you more than ever. The LCC is in chaos, and with Valtheris gone, you have a chance to take on a leadership role. You could change things, make them better. You’re destined for so much more than you realize.”

Her voice cracked, and she took a shaky breath. “That’s why I think it’s best if we say goodbye.” Livra’s tears began to fall freely as she forced the words out.

Calen’s heart stopped for a moment with her words, and without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her. She leaned into his embrace, her head resting against his chest as they both stared out at the lake, the world around them bathed in the soft light of dusk.

After a long silence, Calen finally spoke, his voice steady yet filled with raw emotion. “No, Livra. That’s not what I was going to say.” He pulled back just enough to look into her tear-streaked face, his hands gently holding her shoulders. “Is that really the life you want? Because I don’t think it is. You’ve always been a free spirit, Livra. You don’t belong in the halls of Operientes Solem or trapped in a world of politics. I saw it when we first met, and I see it now.”

He cupped her face gently, wiping away her tears with his thumb. “Do you remember what I told you when Balthar was after you? I’ll tell you again.” His eyes burned with determination, his voice unwavering. “Let’s run away together. I don’t care where we go. To hell with the LCC, to hell with the Veyne legacy, and to hell with the life of a diplomat. I want to be with you, Livra. I want to live a simple life, one where we can have picnics under the shade of trees, dance at festivals, and listen to you play the piano. I want to read books while you sketch beside me. That’s the life I want. So take my hand, Livra. Let’s leave this place behind.”

Calen extended his hand toward her, his gaze locked with hers, unwavering and full of love.

Livra stared at him, her lips parted in astonishment. Tears continued to flow down her cheeks, but now they were mixed with something else—joy, hope, and a love so deep it made her heart ache.

After a brief pause, she let out a choked sob and whispered, “Yes.”

In an instant, she threw herself into his arms, clinging to him as though she would never let go. Their lips met in a passionate, heartfelt kiss that seemed to melt away all the pain, fear, and uncertainty of the past. For that moment, nothing else existed but the two of them and the love they shared.

As the stars began to emerge in the darkening sky above Aeris, Calen and Livra held each other close, ready to face whatever future awaited them—together.