The air in Seroi's chamber was still.
Outside the mountains stood silent under a silver sky. The lake below shimmered without ripples, like a mirror remembering another world.
Elara sat by the bookshelf, fingers gliding along the spines. Her golden eyes moved slowly, reading each title without truly seeing them.
Then Seroi stood near the window, arms folded behind his back.
He had not said a word in minutes.
Neither had she.
Then, softly, she asked,
"How long was I asleep?"
"Ten years," Seroi said.
Her fingers froze on a book.
She turned halfway, her voice quiet but sharp.
"And how long were you going to wait before telling me?"
He looked at her.
Their eyes met.
Then he looked away.
"I was hoping you'd remember on your own. How can I talk with? It was me that sealed you."
"I remember pieces," she whispered. "Dreams. Shadows. Faces without names but in all of them the two faces still echoed in my heart. One is so beautiful and another is clam and cold."
She stepped away from the shelf and crossed the room. Each step felt careful, like she was walking on glass.
"Then tell me something real," she said. "Tell me something I never remembered. Something no one else knows. I am waiting to know the truth hidden behind this cold face."
Seroi took a deep breath.
He turned fully now, his voice lower.
"When you were born… your eyes didn't open for three days. The doctors thought you were blind. But on the morning of the fourth day, you stared at the sun through the window."
His voice cracked, just barely.
"You didn't cry. You just looked at it. As if you'd seen it before. That day was unforgivable for me."
Elara blinked.
Her eyes softened.
She sat down slowly on the edge of the bed.
"You were there?"
He gave a small nod.
"I held you first."
She looked away.
Then back.
"And when I burned that continent?"
Silence filled the room.
Seroi didn't flinch.
"I was there too."
"You let them take me."
"I had no choice."
"You locked me away."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Because if I hadn't… they would have killed you."
Her jaw tightened.
"You still let it happen."
Seroi stepped closer.
"You were born with something inside you no one could understand. Not even the Council. Not even me."
"You mean the light?"
"No. Not just the light. Not just magic. Something older. Something raw but I don't care about that. I don't care about this world. But I only care about y..."
He looked directly into her golden eyes.
"You were born to a dying world. And I… I was just a soldier who happened to be your father."
She stood up.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
He didn't speak.
She took another step.
"Why did you never say it? Not even when I woke up?"
His answer came slowly.
"Because I didn't want you to hate me."
The silence after that felt like a weight across the room.
Then Elara exhaled.
"I don't hate you."
Seroi raised his head.
"You don't?"
"I don't even know you," she said simply. "But I remember your voice. From the dreams. And… maybe that's enough for now."
A small smile touched the edge of his mouth.
He sat on the chair across from her.
"You used to fall asleep on my chest," he said. "Every night. Until you here. Then you got too proud."
She smirked faintly.
"Sounds like me."
"Very."
They sat in silence.
This time, it wasn't heavy.
Just quiet.
Then Elara asked,
"Do they know? The Council?"
Seroi's smile faded.
"They suspect. But they don't care. To them, you're still a weapon."
"And to you?"
He looked at her again.
"You were my daughter long before you were anything else."
She nodded slowly.
Then looked toward the door.
"Are they watching us?"
"Always."
"And if I leave?"
"Then I'll buy for you time."
She looked at him for a long while.
"Not yet," she said. "I'll stay for now. But not for them."
She stood.
"Only for you."
Seroi felt his chest tighten. The ache was old. Buried. But still there.
He stood too.
"You're stronger than I ever was."
She tilted her head, a flicker of amusement in her eyes.
"I know."
Then they both laughed softly.
Just once.
Just enough.
★★★
Far above, behind walls of surveillance and echoes of secrets, the Operator shut off the audio.
He leaned back in his chair.
"Tsk… So that's the truth."
His eyes narrowed.
He opened a private line.
"Council. I have something to report."
The screen went black.
Then a figure stepped through a black gate made of smoke and iron. Like he was always there as a spy.
The floor beneath his boots rippled with runes. The space itself twisted, like reality was barely holding still. Around him, towering shadows shaped like chairs stood in a perfect circle.
Then he snatched the telephone from the operator and told towards the othe line person.
" If you want to know everything than meet me on the Containment Chamber with Seroi and that girl. I will wait you all. When you all will gather I will approach you all."
After said this, the figure was disappeared. And the operator for sometime went on shock. His heartbeat was so high like he was near to death.
The call was already cut. Other side person called everyone with an emergency signals.
Then the Council was gathered.
Twelve figures sat on the seats. One seat remained for the Mage King.
None showed their faces.
Only one spoke.
"You're late, Seroi."
The voice came from a seat made of white stone, but the speaker's body was cloaked in ever-moving mist. A shadow without form. Yet the weight of presence was undeniable.
Seroi stepped forward, bowing his head once.
"I was handling the retrieval, as requested."
"You retrieved her?" asked another voice, deeper, colder. "And she did not resist?"
"She spoke. Calmly. She came of her own will."
Murmurs stirred through the mist.
Another figure leaned forward. His outline flickered like candlelight. "And you are certain? That she hasn't remembered… anything?"
Seroi hesitated. "Not yet."
The white-stone shadow nodded slowly.
"Good. Then she may still be useful."
"But what of the boy?" said the cold voice again. "Ren. He's moving again. Watching. That name still lingers in the static between ley lines."
Then the Mage King arrived. His entry was normal. Nothing special simply he opened the door of the chamber and then evryone was show respect to him. Then he sat on his chair the main chair of the chamber.
He raised his head.
"For that I am not called this meeting."
The room went still...