Myia sat on her bed, her hands clutched tightly together, still pondering why she hadn't seen Zakar since their last mission. She replayed the memory again and again, searching for an answer. Had Justin's cruel words cut him too deeply? Or perhaps Horis's cold indifference had driven him away? The possibilities swirled in her mind like restless shadows, and none of them brought her peace.
Across the room, Sera sat upright, her sharp eyes fixed on Myia. She noticed the way the healer's shoulders trembled, the way her body shook ever so slightly as if her nerves were unraveling in front of her.
"Are you all right?" Sera asked, though her tone carried little warmth. It wasn't concern, but rather curiosity born of Myia's visible distress.
Myia tilted her head slightly and gave the smallest of nods. Without answering, she turned onto her side and laid her head against the pillow, hoping that sleep might calm her body's nervous shiver.
"You're sure?" Sera pressed, her voice calm but piercing. "Because I don't think you are. You're trembling like a leaf in a storm."
Myia kept silent, unwilling to admit her turmoil. The effort of replying felt like a burden.
Sera exhaled softly, not out of compassion but with a quiet insistence. "I'm not asking because I care. But you're our healer, and healers are rare. Like General Lemon said, no matter your rank, your kind is special. If something happens to you, it affects us all."
Myia hesitated before murmuring faintly, still facing the wall and refusing to meet Sera's eyes. "Yah, I know… this is just how my body reacts when I get nervous. I can't control it."
Sera studied her for a while, her mind running through everything that had unfolded since they'd arrived. The missions, the tensions, the faces of her companions all tangled with the lingering absence of Zakar. Chapters first released on novèlfire.net
"Myia," Sera said suddenly, her voice steady.
Myia turned sharply, her wide eyes showing both confusion and anticipation. "What? Did something happen?"
Sera leaned forward slightly, her gaze sharp as a blade. "What is Zakar to you?"
The healer's breath caught in her throat. "Wait… what?! What sort of—"
"—Just answer," Sera cut in with a sly tone, her words leaving no room for evasion. "It's simple a question. What is he to you?"
Myia stammered, her lips quivering as her hands twisted into the fabric of her skirt. "Uhm… I… I don't know. I just… I can't tell exactly." Her voice broke as she sat up on the bed, eyes darting nervously.
Sera's gaze did not falter. She pressed again, relentless. "So what is he to you?"
Myia's throat tightened. Her hands clenched harder, and tears welled at the edges of her eyes until one drop fell onto her lap. Sera's brows lifted slightly in surprise.
"He… he's someone I care for," Myia whispered, her voice trembling. "I… I think I like him. He isn't strong like Justin, or the kind of boy girls swoon over, but… he's different. Quiet. Thoughtful. A smart man who doesn't crave attention. He has a calm strength about him. That's… that's why I like him." She smiled faintly, though her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Sera blinked at her, then smirked. "Wow. Such romance. Like Juliet pining for her prince."
Myia flushed deeper, her face turning crimson. "Uhm… I-I didn't mean it like that…" she stammered, desperate to save herself from the emotional storm.
"Yah, I get it," Sera replied, finally reclining against her bed again. "Your secret's safe with me."
Myia sat frozen, her mind racing. Why had she confessed so openly? Why had the words spilled from her lips with such ease? And why was Sera, of all people, the one she admitted it to?
Her lips tightened, and she blurted suddenly, "And what about you? You don't seem to care for anyone. At least not openly. Except Justin, maybe you always follow him around."
At this, Sera turned her head sharply, her eyes narrowing. She sat up straight once more, her posture rigid, her voice carrying a chilling calm.
"I have no affection for anyone. Justin is nothing more than a teammate. Everyone here is just a rope tied to my progress. That's all. Life is an individual race when it ends, it ends with you and your soul alone. No one else matters. Attachment is weakness."
Myia blinked, her confusion evident. Sera's words struck her like cold steel, sharp and unyielding. And yet, instead of challenging them, she smiled faintly, shook her head, and quietly lay back down.
Sera watched her in silence. She had expected resistance, maybe even anger. But Myia had offered none just quiet acceptance. For the first time, someone had not criticized her harsh worldview.
Before she could dwell on it, the air rippled.
A rift tore open before them, and Zakar stepped through, his body battered, his clothing stained, and the bloodied, unconscious woman draped over his shoulder.
Both Myia and Sera froze in shock. Their eyes widened as countless thoughts clashed in their minds. Why was Zakar carrying another woman? Why was he injured? What had happened out there?
The room hung heavy in silence, the air charged with tension, as Zakar took a single step forward.