The Roar Beneath the Burning Sky
Selena took one final look at the ruins of her home.
The wind moved softly through broken beams and scattered ash. A fragment of charred wood creaked somewhere in the silence, like a tired memory refusing to disappear.
"No," she said firmly, though her fingers trembled slightly at her sides. "Father and Mother are gone. This home is gone too. No matter how long I stand here… they won't return. It only makes me sad."
Leon studied her quietly.
Before he could respond, she suddenly stepped closer and lowered her voice — softer now, vulnerable in a way she rarely allowed.
"My family… from now on… is you."
The words were not dramatic.
Not loud.
But they struck harder than any sword.
For a brief moment, Leon felt something tighten in his chest. His usual playful composure thinned.
He reached out instinctively and placed a hand gently on her head, fingers brushing through her silver hair.
