The room was quiet.
Not the suffocating silence Lyra had grown used
to-
But something softer.
Gentler
Like even the air knew it had to be careful.
Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, falling in warm, golden streaks across the room. The curtains swayed slightly with the breeze, carrying with it a faint scent of herbs and fresh linen.
Everything felt... calm.
Lyra stood near the doorway, her steps slower than usual as she took in the scene before her.
Aerith sat on the bed, her posture relaxed despite the exhaustion still visible in her eyes.
And in her arms-
A child.
So small
So fragile.
Lyra had seen children before.
But this-
This felt different.
"...You're staring," Aerith said softly, a faint smile touching her lips.
Lyra blinked, slightly caught off guard.
"...I wasn't."
Aerith's smile widened just a little. "Of course you weren't."
Lyra looked away briefly, clearing her throat.
"...He's small"
Aerith laughed quietly.
"That's usually how babies are."
Lyra didn't respond.
But her gaze returned.
Unconsciously.
The baby stirred slightly, making a soft, almost inaudible sound as he shifted in Aerith's arms.
Something inside Lyra-
Tightened.
Not unpleasant.
Just
Unfamiliar.
Behind her-
Kael stood near the entrance.
Still.
Silent.
Like he wasn't sure if he belonged in the room.
Aerith noticed him immediately.
Of course she did.
"...Kael."
He didn't move.
"Yes."
Aerith's expression softened.
"...Come here."
A simple request. But Kael didn't obey immediately.
Lyra glanced at him.
Just for a second.
And for the first time-She saw it.
Hesitation.
Kael stepped forward slowly, his movements measured, controlled-like he was approaching something unpredictable.
Something he didn't understand.
He stopped a few steps away from the bed.
Not too close.
Not too far.
Aerith watched him for a moment.
Then-
Without warning-
She shifted slightly and extended the baby toward him.
"Hold him."
Kael froze.
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Too fast.
Too firm.
Aerith raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
Kael's jaw tightened slightly.
"I might drop him."
Lyra blinked.
Of all the things she had expected him to say That wasn't one of them,
Aerith sighed softly.
"You won't."
Kael didn't move
"I'm not used to this."
Aerith smiled gently.
"That's exactly why you should."
A pause.
Kael glanced at the child.
Then away.
...He's too small
Lyra almost laughed.
Almost
Aerith didn't let him escape.
"Kael"
Her tone shifted slightly.
More firm.
But still warm
Take him."
For a moment-
It looked like he might refuse again.
But then-
Slowly-
Reluctantly-
Kael stepped closer.
His hands hovered in the air for a second
Uncertain
Awkward.
Like he didn't know where to place them.
Lyra watched.
Carefully.
Closely.
This wasn't the Kael she knew, The cold, controlled, untouchable man-Was gone.
In his place-
Was someone else
Someone unsure
*Support his head," Aerith said softly, guiding
his hands gently.
Kael followed her instructions stiffly, his movements cautious as if the child might break at the slightest mistake.
And then-
The baby was in his arms.
Kael froze completely.
His entire body went still.
His shoulders stiff.
His grip careful-too careful
Like he was afraid even breathing too hard would
be enough to harm the fragile life he held.
"I'm holding him," he muttered quietly.
Almost like he didn't believe it.
Lyra's lips pressed together slightly. Holding back a smile.
Aerith watched him, her eyes soft.
"Yes," she said gently "You are."
The baby shifted slightly, his tiny hand curling against Kael's chest.
Kael's breath caught.
Just for a second.
His gaze dropped slowly-
Meeting the child's face.
And something changed.
It wasn't obvious
Not dramatic
But it was therе.
A softness
A quiet warmth that didn't belong to the man Lyra had first met
He's... light" Kael said.
Aerith laughed softly.
"He's a baby, Kael"
Kael didn't respond.
Because he was still looking at him.
Still holding him.
And then-
Something unexpected happened.
Kael smiled
Small
Barely there.
But real
Lyra stilled
Because she had never seen that before.
Not like this.
Not unguarded
Not... gentle.
Kael shifted slightly, adjusting his hold
instinctively now, a little more confident, a little
less rigid.
Still careful.
But no longer afraid.
He's quiet," he added.
Aerith's smile softened.
"He likes you."
Kael didn't answer.
But he didn't deny it either
Lyra watched in silence.
Her chest tightening slightly
Because this
This version of him-
Didn't match the one she had called a monster.
And for the first time-
She didn't know which one was real.