Courage

Back at their little house, the three finally allowed themselves to collapse into the battered chairs around the table. The evening sun slid low, casting long golden stripes across the uneven floorboards. The smell of dry wood and the faint sweetness of tea leaves from the cupboard filled the quiet room.

Kael leaned against the back of her chair, crossing her arms. Her usually bright face was subdued. “I get that the situation on the mountain was hopeless, Lian,” she said at last, her voice calm but edged with disappointment, “but I was a bit hurt seeing you give up so quickly.”

Lian ran a hand through his hair, pretending to stretch just to buy himself a few moments. His mind was racing, the way it had been during the entire hike down. Two choices had followed him like twin shadows: keep lying, invent some story about hearing the Demon King’s location from a vague informant, or finally take the harder road and tell them the truth about what he could do.

He glanced at Kael, whose frown was already softening into curiosity, then at Mira, who waited with cool patience, as if weighing every word he might say. He felt a sudden rush of affection for both of them — and a surge of fear. What if they didn’t take it well? What if they started to see him not as a teammate but as a walking intrusion, someone who could pry open their most private thoughts?

He exhaled slowly. “I had my reasons,” he said, his voice steady despite the knot in his stomach. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “The point is… I actually know where the Demon King is hiding.”

Both women froze.

“You what?” they blurted in unison, the surprise snapping the tension in the room.

Mira leaned forward, her eyes narrowing with suspicion, while Kael’s brows shot up, her lips parting in an almost childlike gasp.

“And how exactly did you find that out?” Mira pressed.

Lian hesitated, fingers drumming lightly on the table. Then he drew a deep breath, filling his lungs as if preparing for battle. “Because… I have a gift,” he said quietly. “I can read people’s thoughts.”

Kael blinked once, then twice, before breaking into a grin so wide it almost split her face. “Seriously? That’s amazing! You have such a cool power!” Her voice rang with admiration, not an ounce of caution.

Mira, on the other hand, remained composed, her brows drawn together in thought. “Since when have you known about this?” she asked, her tone careful.

“Since we went to see the Witch,” Lian admitted. “That’s when I realized I could do it.”

Mira crossed her arms, tilting her head just slightly, her eyes never leaving his. “And why didn’t you tell us earlier? Did you not trust us?”

“It wasn’t about trust,” Lian said quickly. “I was hesitant because… well, most people don’t like the idea that someone could peek inside their heads without permission. I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable around me. And for the record”—he raised a hand as if swearing an oath—“I’ve only skimmed your thoughts once, for just a few seconds, and you weren’t thinking about anything private.”

Kael let out a low whistle, clearly amused. Mira’s lips tightened into a thin line. “There’s no way for us to be sure of that,” she said evenly. “You could have checked whenever you wanted.”

“I could have,” Lian agreed, meeting her gaze without flinching, “but I didn’t. I promise.”

Silence stretched for a heartbeat, heavy but not hostile. Mira finally sighed, her shoulders softening. “I’ll choose to believe you,” she said. “Not because I’m completely sure, but because our group works better with trust than with suspicion. And someone with bad intentions wouldn’t have risked everything to save Kael from her family.”

At that, Kael’s expression gentled, her eyes warming with gratitude. “Yeah,” she said softly. “You didn’t have to do that, but you did.”

Mira continued, her voice firmer now. “Right now, we need to be more united than ever. Our goals overlap perfectly. Catching the Demon King means Kael won’t be forced into that marriage. For you, Lian, it’s a chance to stop those so-called heroes once and for all — without the Demon King, they’ll lose the excuse they use to control everyone.”

She hesitated then, her gaze drifting toward the window where the first stars were beginning to shine. “And for me…” She trailed off, biting her lip, then shook her head. “I’m not ready to say it yet. I’ll absolutely tell you. But not now.”

Kael and Lian exchanged a quick look, then nodded. They wouldn’t press her; some truths needed their own time.

A quiet settled over them, but it wasn’t the same as before. The air felt warmer, thicker with understanding. Lian leaned back in his chair, finally letting go of the tension that had been coiled in his chest for quite some time. For the first time since discovering his ability, he felt lighter, as though a door had opened between them and something steady now anchored their companionship.

Outside, the night deepened, cloaking the little house in calm darkness. Inside, three companions sat a little closer than before, sharing the fragile but solid comfort of trust — and the knowledge of the daunting road ahead.