When Kael woke up again, it was already midnight. The stars outside were so bright that one could have sworn they could reach out and pluck them from the sky.

  He stared blankly at the glittering night sky, lost in thought, when a soft rustling at the door pulled him back.

  His gaze shifted. Astra stood in the doorway. As always, her expression was composed and cold. But there was a faint spark in her eyes, almost like worry.

  "What an honor," he said quietly, his tone soft but his face unreadable.

  She walked over to his bed and sat down in the chair beside him. "I heard you woke up, so I thought I'd visit at a time when no one else would be here. You remember? No noticeable contact."

  "Yeah, I know." He replied flatly.

  Astra’s gaze softened slightly. "I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "You had to use your ability because of me, and you had to endure the backlash. That ability of yours is a curse.”

  Kael’s eyes returned to the stars, his expression turning melancholic." A curse. A blessing. It’s both,” he said quietly. "But I don’t care. The only thing that matters is its necessity.”

  For a moment, he considered letting it go and enjoying this rare softness between them. But the memories of the labyrinth, of her secrets, and of his pain were too heavy. He had trusted her with his life, but could he trust her with the truth?

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  He turned back to Astra, locking eyes with her. His voice sharpened, and frustration seeped through.

  "Now, I have a goal that I need to achieve. But I can’t trust you if you don’t start telling me the truth. So, what is the real meaning of this partnership? You’re not the type to rely on anyone unless you have to. I learned that in the labyrinth. Is it because of that? Do you need me so you won't lose yourself? Did I become your partner only because of my abilities?”

  His voice rose with each word, anger and hurt mixing in his chest.

  Astra, never breaking eye contact, slowly shook her head.

  “No . . . you’re more than that,” she said softly. "I’ll admit that at the beginning, that might have been the case. But in the labyrinth, I realized that I truly need you. You complement me. I trust you."

  "No," Kael hissed, cutting her off. “If you really trusted me, you’d let me in. Instead, you’re using what you know about me to keep me close. That’s not trust. That’s manipulation.”

  Astra flinched almost imperceptibly, then turned away, her eyes drifting toward the starry sky. “So that means . . .” she whispered, her voice fragile, “that you want to leave me?”

  Kael froze. Hearing the pain in her voice pierced his anger for a moment. But then his expression hardened again. "As long as you don’t tell me what you know, yes."

  He couldn’t see her face at that moment. Had he been able to see it, he would have seen the tears tracing silent paths down her cheeks.

  Silence filled the room like a weight. Then, in the softest voice he’d ever heard from her, she whispered, "Then I suppose this is farewell."

  She stood abruptly, turned, and ran toward the door.

  "Astra, wait—" Kael reached out, his voice cracking, but she was already gone before he could finish.

  He sank back against the bed as a hollow ache spread through his chest. What have I done? he thought bitterly. I’m no better than the rest of them. I took out my anger on the nearest person, even though she is not to blame.

  He looked at the ceiling, his eyes determined. "I’ll find her tomorrow and tell her that I can wait until she’s ready for the truth."

  But the next day, she was gone. For the first time, Kael realized that once trust is cracked, the echoes don’t fade overnight.