She frowned, and a look of confusion flickered across her face.

  "What do you mean by that?"

  Kael flinched. He had spoken without thinking, revealing something he hadn’t meant to share yet.

  Still, he kept his gaze fixed outside the carriage window, watching the people celebrate in the streets laughing and unaware of the noble carriage quietly passing through their midst.

  "It's nothing," Kael said at last. "I just don't want anything to do with you anymore."

  He hoped she would accept the lie.

  She didn’t.

  Cassandra studied him for a long moment, her eyes calm and sharp.

  "You're lying," she said simply. “You’ve always been a terrible liar.”

  She leaned forward and entwined her fingers with his. Kael tried to pull away, but she tightened her grip and forced him to meet her gaze.

  “I meant what I said earlier,” she continued. “I can accept that you don’t want this marriage. Then let’s treat it as what it truly is: a contract. I'll help you. One day, when I need it, you will help me.”

  Kael hesitated before looking back at her.

  "What if the truth you’re searching for isn’t what you want to find?" he asked quietly.

  “What if the answer is exactly what you’ve believed all along?”

  A sad smile touched Cassandra’s lips.

  "Then at least I'll know that I tried to find my own answer instead of blindly accepting what others told me. That alone would be enough.”

  Her honesty struck him harder than any accusation could have.

  Kael felt pulled between two choices.

  Should he tell her the plan?

  With her help, stealing the sword would be easier, but could he trust her?

  His gaze flickered toward Sylas at the front of the carriage.

  Most of them annoy me. Some of them are dangerous. But they don't deserve to die for a plan they might never live to see succeed.

  Honestly, I never fully believed in their plan anyway.

  He exhaled.

  "We're planning to steal your Sword of Motarith tonight," Kael said bluntly.

  The reactions were immediate and explosive.

  Cassandra’s eyes widened in shock.

  Sylas, on the other hand, slammed the carriage to a halt. He jumped down from the coachman’s seat in one swift motion, tore open the carriage door, and pressed his sword against Kael’s throat.

  “What are you doing?” Sylas hissed. The usual emptiness in his eyes was replaced by barely contained fury.

  “Have you completely lost your mind?”

  Kael didn’t move. He met Sylas’s glare with unsettling calm and slowly raised his hands.

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  Cassandra inhaled sharply as understanding dawned on her.

  "So...you're one of them," she murmured, her gaze flicking between Sylas and the blade at Kael's throat.

  Her voice softened, but the disappointment in her eyes cut deep.

  “You said all those cruel things to me at the palace knowing you’d steal my sword that night? That’s heartless. Even for me.”

  "I wanted one last beautiful night," Kael replied quietly, never breaking eye contact with Sylas.

  "With everyone. Before I leave."

  He glanced briefly at Cassandra.

  "I couldn't have known it would spiral this far out of control."

  She let out a dry chuckle.

  "You truly are a Spawn of Darkness. Only someone with a blackened soul could do something like this."

  "One thing we agree on," Sylas muttered, his blade still at Kael’s throat.

  Then Cassandra moved.

  In one swift, elegant motion, she rose from her seat, drew her rapier, and pressed its tip against Sylas’s neck.

  "Lower your weapon," she said calmly, her smile sharp and arrogant.

  "Or I will kill you before you can make a move."

  She leaned in slightly.

  "And you should believe me."

  Sylas turned his blazing gaze toward her. For a moment, the carriage seemed to hold its breath.

  Cassandra didn’t flinch.

  Slowly, Sylas lowered his sword.

  Kael straightened and nodded briefly at Cassandra before turning back to Sylas.

  "Cassandra and I will enter the academy and retrieve the sword," Kael said evenly.

  "She is allowed to wield it as long as it remains on the academy grounds. That was the condition, correct?”

  Cassandra nodded once, her eyes never leaving Sylas.

  Kael allowed himself a small smile.

  “No alarm will be triggered. No distractions. No sacrifices. We'll walk in, take the sword, and leave the empire together."

  He turned toward Cassandra.

  "You can tell the Order or the king that I abused your trust. Tell them I asked you to show me the sword, knocked you out, and stole it."

  Cassandra winked.

  "That's surprisingly close to the truth."

  Kael’s eye twitched, but he felt an unexpected sense of relief inwardly. Their sharp and familiar exchange felt closer to how things were before everything shattered.

  He turned back to Sylas, who still radiated anger but also hesitation now.

  “Think, Sylas,” Kael continued.

  "With Bereos and Varen involved, our chances increase dramatically. You must have considered that yourself.”

  At the mention of their names, Cassandra stiffened for a moment before smoothing her expression back into a smile.

  Sylas stared out the window, silent.

  After a long moment, he turned back.

  “What if this fails?”

  "It won't," Kael replied instantly. His voice was steady and absolute.

  "My choice. My choice. My responsibility.”

  Sylas let out a harsh laugh and shook his head.

  "Unbelievable," he muttered. "You're betting everything on one move. And on her, of all people."

  He pointed at Cassandra. "Astra warned me about you. She always said that you can’t be trusted.”

  Cassandra laughed softly.

  "Of course Astra would say that about me."

  Before Kael could wonder what their history was, Cassandra rose and smoothed her dress.

  "Decide now," she said to Sylas.

  "Either I help you, and you live. Or you can proceed without me, and most of you will die.”

  Their eyes locked.

  Seconds passed.

  Finally, Sylas turned away and stepped out of the carriage.

  Moments later, the carriage lurched forward.

  "I'll take you to the academy," Sylas's cold, resigned voice came from outside.

  "And may the eons themselves pray that you’re right, Kael."

  Kael nodded with outward confidence, even though fear coiled tightly in his chest.

  Fear that he had made the wrong choice.

  It has to work.

  During the ride, Kael explained the plan to Cassandra—what would happen tonight and his intentions afterward. He deliberately left out certain truths, such as his ability and the destruction of Words through solving Mysteries. He didn’t know how much Cassandra already suspected. More importantly, he refused to pull her deeper into something from which she might never escape.

  When he finished, he turned toward her.

  "You will take the sword," he said quietly. "After that, you withdraw. I’ll help you find the truth about your sister once we meet again. Is that enough?”

  Cassandra studied him, one brow lifting slightly.

  “And when do you think that will be?”

  Kael shook his head.

  "I don't know. But I’ll stay in touch. Through my falcon. Will that suffice for now?”

  She nodded.

  Then, without warning, Cassandra drew her rapier and pressed its tip against his chest. The cold steel rested directly above his heart.

  "But you don't want to earn my wrath," she said softly.

  "And you will feel it if you break your word."

  Before Kael could answer, the carriage came to a halt.

  "We've arrived at the academy," Sylas announced from outside.

  Cassandra withdrew her blade and stepped out of the carriage without another word.

  Kael lingered for a moment, rubbing the spot where the rapier had touched him. His expression was conflicted, caught between resolve and unease.

  Then he followed her outside.

  The academy gates loomed before them.

  Sylas took the reins behind them, and the carriage turned toward the outer district, disappearing into the night.

  Kael and Cassandra exchanged a brief look and a silent nod.

  Together, they walked toward the gates—the first step into their first and last theft.