The cold wind around Cassia gradually softened as the duel's tension faded. Justinian still had one hand on her shoulder, steadying himself from the intensity of their clash, but his eyes remained focused on her sword, on the thin, eternal frost whispering along its edge.
"Winterfang…" he murmured. "To think you'd be able to handle its trials this early..."
Cassia only huffed in amusement, twirling the blade with newfound confidence. "I told you, didn't I? I wasn't going to let you do everything alone."
Justinian smiled at that, a tired, relieved smile that felt more real than anything he had expressed in days. "And I'm glad you reminded me."
Silence lingered between them, comfortable and shared. Only the faint hum of cold mana filled the ruins, flickering like the breath of a slumbering giant.
Then Justinian's expression shifted.
"Cassia… how long did you think you were gone for?"
"Huh?" She blinked. "It felt like a few hours."
