Jhed stood with his hand extended, smiling.
Nain looked at it.
Flashback.
"She's so arrogant."
"Thinks she's better than everyone because she's a princess."
"That's why she has no friends. She brought it on herself."
Nain heard every word. She always heard every word.
She didn't turn around. Didn't respond. Just walked away, back straight, face empty.
Later, sitting on her bed, the door opened.
Luccos.
He came and sat beside her — the way he always did, quiet first, then careful.
"Nain. I keep hearing things. That you don't talk to anyone." He paused. "Why?"
She looked at the floor.
"I'm sorry," she said. No expression. Just the words.
"Listen to me." His voice was gentle but serious. "If you keep running from people — if you never let anyone in — you won't be able to lead this city after I'm gone. I worry about you. Every night." He looked at her. "Promise me. Promise me you'll try."
"Yes," she said.
"Good." He stood. "I'll leave you to it."
"Mm."
He left.
Nain lay back on her bed and stared at the ceiling.
I don't actually like any of them, she thought. Not even a little.
Back in the cell.
"Why would I help you," Nain said.
"Because you're exactly like me."
"...Fine. Yes. But my hand is getting tired." Jhed had been holding his arm out for an embarrassingly long time.
"Where would we even go?"
"Away from here. That's enough for now."
"I'm not leaving without my father."
"Then go to your father."
"And you?"
"I'm not from here," Jhed said. "So I'll go far away. Somewhere else entirely."
"And if you get caught?"
"Then I'll run again." He grinned. "They can't actually stop me. Trust me on that one."
Nain looked at him for a long moment.
Then she took his hand and stood up.
She walked straight to the door.
Placed her palm flat against the iron.
"What are you doing?" Jhed asked.
She didn't answer.
He watched.
Nothing happened for a while. Then — the air in the room shifted. Warmer. Then warmer still, like a summer afternoon arriving all at once. Sweat appeared on Nain's forehead, along her neck. Her hand stayed pressed against the door.
Something's happening, Jhed thought. But what—
"It's melting," he said out loud.
Not breaking. Not bending. Melting — slowly, from where her palm made contact, the iron going soft and liquid, running down the door in slow dark rivulets.
Jhed stared.
How. What are the physics of this. What kind of power—
The door was gone.
Just — gone. A puddle of cooled metal on the floor where it had been, still faintly glowing at the edges.
Nain stepped back. She was breathing hard, drenched in sweat, clearly exhausted.
"You wanted the door open," she said. "I removed it entirely."
"How did you do that?"
She walked through the doorway without answering.
"Hey — wait, I'm coming—" Jhed scrambled after her. "No seriously, how did you do that? What was that? Can you do it to other things? What's the range? Is it only metal or—"
Nain kept walking.
But there was a small smile on her face.
Just barely. Just at the corner.