The voices outside had grown so loud that Kana could no longer make out the words—they blurred into a heated storm of shouting and accusations, rising and falling like waves against the walls.
She sat still at first, pretending to focus on the scroll she had been unrolling, but her eyes kept darting toward the door.
Her fingers toyed with the edge of the parchment, the texture rough under her nails, yet her attention was fixed entirely on the muffled chaos beyond the room.
Irielle stood by the window, arms crossed, gaze carefully avoiding the commotion outside.
"Don't."
She said without turning around. Her voice was calm but firm, the kind of tone meant to anchor someone in place.
Kana blinked.
"Don't what?"
"Don't get involved. Whatever's happening out there has nothing to do with you."
Irielle finally glanced over her shoulder, her expression a composed mask, but there was an unmistakable sharpness in her eyes.
"Stay here."
