"Why do you have such eyes?" Yula asked timidly.
"Huh? What eyes?" Kallen replied, raising a brow.
"You... I... It’s nothing," she stammered, averting her gaze.
Kallen stared at her for a long moment without saying a word. She fidgeted under his gaze, clasping her hands at her sides and nervously rubbing her thumb over her nails.
"You should really drop the act and tell me who you really are," Kallen said, shaking his head.
"Wh-what?" she stuttered again.
"Oh, it’s nothing. Don’t mind me," he said with a casual smile.
They returned to tidying up the forge after the day’s work. Outside, dusk was settling in fast—and Menelaus had just returned.
"What did you mean earlier?" Yula’s soft voice drifted to his ears.
Kallen smirked slightly, turning his face just enough so she couldn’t see the expression.
"Mmm? It’s really nothing. Don’t pay it any attention."
Silence fell again, but from the corner of his eye, Kallen could tell she was uncomfortable.
He refocused on his chores in silence—until her voice suddenly came from right beside him.
"What did you mean by what you said earlier?"
Kallen flinched and shifted quickly to the side in feigned fright.
"You... I said it’s nothing," he growled, eyes narrowing.
"How did you find out?" she asked. Her voice carried a soft, innocent tone—still gentle, but eerily devoid of its usual timidity. It sent a chill crawling up his spine.
Kallen grinned. "See? Now that’s much better."
"I’m surprised you pulled it off so well that neither Democles nor even Menelaus saw through you. Or maybe Menelaus did, but couldn’t act—because of the one backing you... Let me guess, that eccentric orc? What was his—"
Kallen’s back slammed into the wall, his feet hanging off the ground. Her pale green eyes locked onto his crimson ones as she held him up by the collar.
"You might want to stop talking."
Kallen smiled widely and raised both arms in mock surrender.
Seeing the look on his face, she clicked her tongue in annoyance and dropped him to the ground.
"How did you find out?" she asked again, her brows creased.
Kallen frowned, tightened his lips, and traced a finger across them as if to say, My lips are sealed.
"You can talk..." she muttered through gritted teeth. "Only when I ask you a question, though."
Kallen nodded, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.
"Well, like I said, the character you were trying to impersonate just wasn’t consistent. I’ve got a whole long list of flaws in the act."
"From the very first day we met, your introduction rubbed me the wrong way. It was too sudden, too smooth for someone supposedly timid—especially in a situation that could’ve escalated into a conflict between your big brother and what might’ve been an assassin."
He gave a half-shrug. "It could’ve been dismissed as nothing, maybe. But you were also far too curious about me... and way too comfortable in the presence of a stranger who, mind you, is said to have killed your kin." He shook his head, almost disappointed.
"Oh, and let’s not forget how you somehow keep slipping out and meeting me—always at the most opportune moments—without Aeneas, who practically breathes down your neck, or anyone else noticing. That’s... suspicious."
He leaned back slightly, a hint of a smirk forming. "I wonder what kind of methods you use on the poor guy to keep distracting him all the time."
She stared at him in silence, her innocent face unreadable.
"I wonder what Democles, Castor, Aeneas, and the others would say," she finally said, "if they heard you just admitted to killing Nestor."
Kallen chuckled at that. "Nice try. But you’re wrong. My words were: ’a stranger who is said to have killed your kin.’ I’m accused—doesn’t mean I did it."
She smirked in return. "Well, It’s only what I tell them that matters."
"Then you would have to explain how you manage to knock Aeneas out cold and sneak away to meet me every time—without being caught."
Yula arched a brow. "What if they’re actually behind it?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "What if they’re directing me from the shadows?"
"Aeneas would never go for that," Kallen said without hesitation. "He’s too protective to put you in harm’s way. Castor also, is too considerate... remember there’s a high possibility I did kill Nestor. Who’s to say I couldn’t do the same to you, and make it look like an accident?"
"Well, there’s still one person left."
"That’s a strong argument. And yeah, I agree—Democles could do it."
She narrowed her eyes slightly. "So why won’t he?"
Kallen paused, thoughtful. Then he spoke, softly but surely.
"Because I’m not his goal."
Silence fell between them after his last words. They stood still, facing each other, the atmosphere tense—as though locked in a quiet standoff.
Then Yula chuckled, breaking the silence, and smiled. "Again, looks like I was right. You’re very smart... just like I predicted. I’m pretty sure you also killed Nestor."
"Huh? You predicted?" Kallen asked, brows furrowed.
"In Aeneas’ room, there’s a bottle of seeds—Aletheia. Like the name suggests, it’s used to force the truth from someone. Top shelf, to the left. You can use it however you want."
"You’re not making sense," he said, narrowing his eyes. "If they had something like that, why didn’t they just use it on me? Would’ve saved me the trouble of clearing my name."
He was calm on the surface, but inwardly, her words struck a chord. Was she bluffing? Was she testing his reaction?
"I said it was in his room. Never said he owned it," she replied with a smirk, throwing his own trick back at him.
Kallen smiled slightly. Well played, he thought.
"So... why are you telling me this?" he asked after a moment.
"You pointed out a lot of ’holes’ in the character I played," she said, stepping closer. "But did you ever stop to think—maybe those holes were intentional? Set up for you to notice, to make you feel like you were leading, when in fact..." she trailed off, smirking.
Kallen frowned, eyes narrowing slightly.
Yula laughed, loud and clear, until a tear slipped from her eye. "You didn’t think someone could be smarter than you? You’re not the only one with a sharp brain, you know."
His frown softened into a smile. "Smart? Maybe. I just know how to pick benefits... and walk the most advantageous paths."
"Still cocky," Yula said, shaking her head, still smiling.
The two of them fell silent again, this time more at ease, and continued working until the tasks were done. Then Yula turned and left, leaving Kallen alone in the forge to train.