Chapter 947 — The Calm Between Suns
The Hollow glowed beneath the morning light, golden rays bleeding through the translucent dome of the Stellar Barrier. The pulse of the great engine still echoed softly underfoot—a heartbeat that reminded every soul within its reach that they were safe, that the world, for once, was at peace.
Kael woke to the gentle warmth of sunlight spilling through the windows of his chambers, the sound of the town stirring faintly below. Beside him, Lyria lay still, her dark hair draped across his chest like silk, her breathing steady and peaceful. For a long while, Kael didn't move. The past few weeks had been relentless—a constant storm of planning, construction, diplomacy, and sleepless nights. But now… now, for a moment, he could just exist.
Lyria stirred, her fingers tracing slow lines across his skin. "You're awake early," she murmured, voice soft with sleep.
Kael smiled faintly. "Old habits. Even peace doesn't let me rest long."
Her lips curved into a small smirk as she propped herself up, meeting his gaze. "Then maybe you need someone to remind you how."
Kael chuckled quietly. "You've been doing that for years."
Lyria leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to his collarbone. "And I'll keep doing it until it sticks."
For a while, they simply lay there, the rhythm of the Hollow's life drifting through the open window—vendors calling, the faint laughter of children, the soft clang of forges being lit. The city was alive, but calm.
It was a rare thing.
Eventually, Kael rose and dressed, the faint hum of magic sparking as his cloak latched into place. Lyria watched him from the bed, head tilted. "You're not going to the council room, are you?"
"Not today," Kael said. "Today, I think we deserve to just… live."
That earned a smile from her. "Then let's make the most of it."
The day unfolded like a slow dream.
Kael and Lyria walked through the streets of the Hollow hand in hand—no guards, no fanfare, no pressing duties. Only curious smiles and nods of respect as the townsfolk passed them. The market was alive with the scent of baked bread and spiced meats, the sound of merchants bartering and laughter echoing from every corner.
Children darted between stalls, waving small wooden carvings shaped like the new sentry turrets. One of them stopped in front of Kael, eyes wide. "Mister Kael! Is it true you built the new sun?"
Kael knelt, smiling softly. "Not quite. I just helped it shine a little brighter."
The boy grinned, clutching his little carving before running off again. Lyria watched him go, her hand slipping into Kael's. "You've become a legend to them, you know."
Kael's gaze lingered on the crowd. "Legends have a way of falling."
"Then we'll make sure you don't," she said simply.
Eris followed quietly behind them, her steps light, expression calm. She no longer carried that mechanical stillness she once had. Her golden eyes—always sharp, always observant—now carried something else. Wonder, perhaps. Curiosity.
At one stall, she stopped, watching a baker sprinkle sugar onto a tray of pastries. The way the crystals caught the light seemed to hold her in place.
"Eris," Kael said gently, noticing her pause. "You've never tried one of those, have you?"
She shook her head slowly. "I've never… eaten."
Lyria smiled and bought three. "Then today's a good day to start."
Eris took the pastry carefully, studying it as if it were an artifact. She mimicked how Lyria held it, then bit into it. Her eyes widened instantly.
Sweetness. Warmth. The way the dough melted and the sugar cracked beneath her teeth. It was too much, too new.
"This is…" she began softly, searching for a word. "Unnecessary… yet… pleasant."
Lyria laughed. "That's how most good things in life are."
Kael smiled faintly, amused. "Careful, Eris. Next thing you know, you'll be addicted."
Eris tilted her head, licking a grain of sugar from her lip. "Addicted?"
"Hooked," Lyria said. "Something you can't stop thinking about."
Eris considered this, her gaze distant. "I think I understand."
Later, the three of them sat by the Hollow's central fountain, where the golden glow of the Stellar Engine could still be felt even here—a hum in the air, a comfort beneath the skin.
Selina's courier arrived not long after, handing Kael a sealed parchment with the mark of the Science Division. Kael broke the seal, scanning the message with practiced ease.
Lyria leaned over his shoulder. "Bad news?"
He shook his head, though his tone was tired. "Not bad. Just… slow."
He handed her the report.
'Reconstruction of the Stellar Engine replicas is ongoing. Estimated time for completion and full functionality: one month minimum. Outer rings remain unstable during channel tests. Recommend patience over haste.'
Lyria sighed softly. "A month isn't so long."
Kael leaned back against the fountain's edge, his eyes half-lidded. "It feels like an eternity when the world's waiting."
Eris watched him closely. "You do not rest well, even when there is nothing to fight."
Kael gave her a small, tired smile. "You're learning to read me too well."
"I observe patterns," she replied quietly. "And yours are consistent."
Lyria reached out and brushed a strand of hair from his face. "Maybe that's why today matters."
Kael met her gaze. In her eyes, he saw the reflection of everything he'd built—the Hollow, the people, the light. But beyond that, he saw something rarer: peace.
He leaned in and kissed her softly, the world around them fading for a moment into golden warmth.
Eris looked away, a flicker of something unspoken crossing her expression. She didn't understand it fully—not yet—but it stirred deep inside her chest like a spark waiting for air.
Maybe, she thought quietly, this was what feeling really meant.
The day lingered until dusk, when the last of the sunlight faded into the soft hum of the barrier. The Hollow rested beneath its golden shell, serene and untroubled, unaware of the storms that would one day return.
But for Kael, Lyria, and Eris—it was enough.
For now, peace was theirs.