Chapter 7 — The Weight of Trouble

Kael stood in the tavern doorway, the faint glow of shattered runes fading into silence behind him.

Lyren lay on the floor, unconscious — free, but fragile.

He exhaled deeply. “This is way more trouble than it’s worth,” he muttered.

Yet his feet didn’t move. He turned around, sighed again, and crouched beside her.

“You’re going to be a pain in my neck, aren’t you?”

He lifted her gently and carried her out through the back streets of Elario, avoiding guards and late-night wanderers until he reached a quiet inn.

The next morning sunlight streamed through the curtains. Lyren stirred, blinking groggily. She found herself in a bed, soft sheets beneath her fingers.

Across the room, Kael sat in a chair, arms crossed, asleep.

She watched him for a moment — the calm face, the relaxed posture, the faint exhaustion under his eyes.

When Kael opened his eyes, she flinched slightly.

“So you’re awake,” he said, standing up and stretching. His tone was neutral, almost bored. “Good. Saves me the trouble of making sure you’re alive.”

He leaned against the wall, arms folded. “So. Why were you in a human kingdom? Elves don’t mingle with us — especially not forest elves.”

Lyren’s eyes lowered. “…”

Her silence lingered.

Kael sighed. “I see. Not going to talk.”

He turned toward the door. “Fine. Stay here, rest up. You’re free now. What you do next isn’t my problem.”

As he reached for the handle, a hand clutched his sleeve.

“Wait—”

Kael glanced back, surprised. Lyren looked up at him, her eyes trembling. “Please… don’t leave me alone.”

Kael froze. He hated this. He didn’t want attachments, responsibility — or any of this.

He sighed again, the longest one yet. “You’re trouble, you know that?”

She said nothing, just watched him.

“Fine,” Kael said finally, “come with me. But don’t cause problems.”

Back at the castle Kael moved like a shadow through the castle corridors, Lyren following quietly behind him with her hood up. He led her into his room.

“Stay here,” he said. “Don’t leave, don’t make noise, and don’t let anyone see you. Especially the princess.”

Lyren nodded silently.

Kael glanced at her one last time before leaving. “I’ll figure something out later.”

The Academy

Kael arrived just as class was about to begin.

Professor Miren Althea spotted him instantly.

“You’re late,” she said, frowning.

Kael scratched his head, yawning. “Overslept.”

Her eyebrow twitched. “You seem to ‘oversleep’ a lot.”

Kael gave a faint smirk. “I’m consistent, at least.”

Julius, sitting nearby, chuckled under his breath while Lelia rolled her eyes from the front row.