She kept her gaze on the floor, trying to avoid his piercing eyes. Shame and guilt weighed heavily on her heart.
Anastasia had almost died. Despite Arya's promise to always protect him, despite her best efforts, she had failed. Atticus had been the one to protect her instead, and the guilt gnawed at her.
But before she could say another word, she felt Atticus's arms wrap around her, pulling her into a gentle hug. Her eyes widened in shock.
"I missed you, Arya," Atticus said softly.
For a moment, Arya didn't know how to react. She hesitated, her voice shaky as she began to protest,
"B-but I wasn't able to—"
"Don't blame yourself," Atticus interrupted, his voice firm but gentle. "You did your best. It's not anyone's fault except the people responsible."
'Such anger,' Arya shivered slightly. The air had become noticeably colder as Atticus spoke, his anger palpable in the room.
It was so intense, it felt like the temperature had dropped. Arya could sense the overwhelming fury simmering beneath his calm exterior, and she wasn't sure if she should be relieved or concerned.
Tears welled up in her eyes and just as Arya was about to respond, a presence appeared outside the door, and she quickly disappeared back into the shadows.
The door burst open, and two figures walked in— a beautiful young girl with a doll like face, her expression cold and aloof, and a tall, vibrant boy with a large grin on his face.
"Ember… Caldor?" Atticus muttered, shock flickering in his eyes. It had been so long since he had seen them.
Ember's icy gaze softened as she looked at her cousin.
"Atticus," she said softly, her voice cool but laced with warmth. She gave him a faint smile, something she rarely showed.
Caldor, on the other hand, despite all the years, hadn't changed a bit. He rushed into the room with a bright laugh, his energy filling the space.
"You're awake!" he shouted, leaping toward Atticus before he could react, enveloping him in a bone crushing hug.
"Caldor…" Atticus's voice was muffled against his cousin's chest, but there was a faint smile on his lips as he returned the embrace.
"You look just as broody as ever, Atti!" Caldor teased, stepping back and giving Atticus a once over.
"Seriously, you're younger than me, but you're already stronger. How does that even work?"
Atticus chuckled lightly. "Maybe if you didn't spend all your time fooling around in the military, you'd catch up."
Caldor threw his head back with a laugh. "Fooling around? I'm practically the star of the show over there!" He gave Atticus a playful punch on the arm.
"But seriously, it's good to see you, little cuz. And by the way—" Caldor's expression softened, and his eyes took on a more serious look. "How are you holding up?… Grandma Freya."
The room grew quiet as the mention of their grandmother's name hung in the air. Atticus nodded, his jaw tightening slightly. "I know. It's all… been hard."
Atticus immediately noticed the red, puffy eyes on both Ember and Caldor. Although they appeared composed, it was obvious they were putting up a façade. They had each had the time to cry and grief.
Ember approached and placed a hand on his shoulder before meeting his eyes and giving him a small smile with a reassuring nod.
"It's going to be fine."
Atticus chuckled slightly before pulling Ember into a tight hug. "Right back at you."
The trio sat down in the seats in the room, the heaviness lingering for a while before the mood shifted.
Caldor leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a grin. "So, we're all a mess, huh? I cried so hard I thought I'd flood the place, but at least I'm still the most handsome one here."
Atticus snorted. "You wish."
"I mean, look at me!" Caldor flexed dramatically, trying to lighten the mood. "A walking masterpiece!"
Ember suddenly frowned, glancing at Caldor. "Ugly."
Caldor gasped dramatically, clutching his chest as though he'd been mortally wounded. "Ugly?! Me? How dare you, Sis!" He jumped up from his seat and began pacing around the room with exaggerated movements.
He gestured to himself, waving his arms like an actor in a play. "Have you seen this face? This is the face of a legend! A masterpiece carved by the gods themselves! How could you call this perfection ugly?"
He turned to Atticus with wide eyes, pointing at Ember with mock horror. "Did you hear her? She just called me ugly! Atticus, you've got to defend me here— tell her she's blind!"
Atticus couldn't hold back his laughter, shaking his head. "I think you're just digging yourself a deeper hole, Cal."
Caldor ignored him, continuing with even more dramatic flair. "I refuse to believe it! I am the shining star of the Ravenstein family! The radiant beacon of beauty and strength! This"—he pointed to his face—"is a national treasure!"
Ember raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching as though she was holding back a smile. "National embarrassment."
Caldor dropped to his knees, clutching his face in mock despair. "Noooo! Not you too! My own family—betraying me! The world is cruel, so cruel!"
Atticus burst out laughing, shaking his head. "Still as dramatic as ever."
Caldor looked up, a playful grin stretching across his face. "You love it, admit it."
Ember crossed her arms, finally allowing herself to smile just a little. "Idiot."
Caldor stood up, puffing out his chest. "Maybe. But I'm a handsome idiot!"
They each burst into laughter. Caldor had always been that person—bringing a lightness to the room that made it impossible to dwell in grief for too long. His energy was contagious, and it was exactly what they needed right now.
As they caught up, Atticus couldn't help but glance at Ember and Caldor. Their attire was telling; they had come straight from the military, likely because of everything that had happened.
Ember had finished the academy last year, which meant she had already spent almost a year in the military.
Atticus took in a deep breath. He needed to stop overthinking and just enjoy the moment with them.
With a smile, he turned to them.
"So, how's the military?" he asked, his tone lighter.