She thought the memory would end there.
But it didn't.
Instead of fading away like the others, the scene continued. Warm, soft light bathed the training grounds, and Liora saw Aeris—her younger self—still clumsily but stubbornly trailing after Xu Kai.
There was something different now. His steps slowed more often. He would glance sideways when she wasn't looking. During sparring practice, he no longer ignored her completely. Once, when she tripped again, he caught her by the elbow before she hit the ground.
It was only for a moment. But he didn't let go right away.
He just looked at her. And she looked at him.
Liora's breath caught.
Their moments grew warmer each day—fewer words, more looks, unspoken things passed like threads of light between them. Aeris began to understand the rhythm of his silence. He began to tolerate her questions. And sometimes, just sometimes, she'd catch the tiniest quirk of his lips, like a secret smile he never wanted anyone to see.
