The room slowly settled after Lily left.
The tension she'd taken with her didn't vanish—it just thinned, like mist burned away by a weak sun.
Lex was the first to move. He rolled his shoulders once, as if shaking off an invisible weight.
"I should go," he said, voice casual but posture tight. "Father's probably already wondering where I am."
Vivi nodded immediately, relief flickering across her face at the excuse. "I—I should check on the others, too. And… you need rest, Solace."
She stepped closer to the bed, hands clasped behind her back. "I'm really glad you're awake."
"Me too," Solace replied honestly.
She smiled, small and warm, then followed Lex toward the door.
While all of this happened, Solace wondered if he should ask directly about the question bugging in his mind. Is she a transmigrator like me? Is that why she is not mentioned in the novel?
Maybe I should test the waters before deciding anything.
Meanwhile, Phoebe lingered by the foot of the bed, eyes darting between Solace and Nolan with a look that was far too sharp to be innocent.
She was acting way too suspiciously.
She cleared her throat. "Hey, Nolan."
Nolan looked up. "Yeah?"
"You remember," she said lightly, "the thing."
Nolan stiffened. "What thing?"
"The thing," Phoebe repeated, wiggling her eyebrows.
"That's not—why would you—"
Phoebe grabbed his sleeve. "Come on. We gotta go."
"Wait, what?" Nolan protested as she dragged him toward the door. "I didn't agree to anything!"
Solace frowned. "Oi. What are you two up to?"
Phoebe didn't even turn around. "Nothing!"
The word came far too quickly.
Then she yanked Nolan through the doorway and slammed it shut behind them.
Silence.
Solace stared at the door for a second longer than necessary.
"…That was suspicious," he muttered.
A soft laugh answered him.
He turned his head.
Love was still there, leaning against the wall near the window, arms crossed, posture relaxed like she'd been carved into the room itself.
"Very," she agreed.
Solace hesitated, then asked, genuinely confused, "Don't you… have somewhere else to be?"
Love's eyebrows rose. Slowly. Deliberately.
"Oh," she said, placing a hand over her chest. "Is that your way of telling me to leave?"
"No—!" Solace said immediately, panic flashing across his face. "That's not what I meant. I just— I thought you might have other… things."
She tilted her head, studying him for a moment. Then she smiled—but it was softer now, less teasing.
"I get it," she said. "Don't worry."
Her tone was light, but something about it made Solace feel like he'd stepped on a loose board.
Before he could say anything else, she pushed off the wall and walked toward him.
"Uh," Solace said as she closed the distance. "Is something wrong?"
"Nope."
She kept coming.
She stopped at the side of the bed, close enough that Solace could smell the faint trace of smoke that always clung to her—like rain hitting hot stone.
She sat down on the edge of the medical bed.
Solace immediately pushed himself more upright, heart thudding. "Love?"
She leaned in slightly.
Closer.
His pulse spiked. His ears burned. His thoughts scattered like startled birds.
She leaned closer still.
Their knees brushed.
'This was getting way too weird. What's with a sudden personality change?' Solace thought.
"Love," he said again, voice cracking just a little.
She didn't answer.
She moved until her face was inches away from his, their breath mingling, warm and uneven. Solace's heart slammed so hard he was sure she could hear it. His hands clenched into the sheets.
Is this actually happening?
She tilted her head, eyes flicking to his lips.
Solace's face went bright red.
Then—
She leaned past him, lips brushing his ear, and whispered:
"Just kidding."
She pulled back instantly and burst out laughing.
Loud. Unrestrained. Almost wicked.
Solace froze. What?
Then sputtered. "W—What the hell was that?!"
She laughed harder, wiping at the corner of her eye. "Your face! Gods, you looked like your soul was about to leave your body."
"Why would you do that?!" he demanded, mortified.
She grinned, unapologetic. "Because you're way too passive."
He blinked. "What?"
She leaned back on her hands, studying him like a curious specimen. "You've got the teeth of a vampire, the stare of someone dangerous, and yet you act like a startled parrot."
"I do not—"
"You do," she cut in cheerfully. "Always reacting. Never the one who actively engages in something. So I figured I'd give you a little push."
Solace covered his face with one hand. "That was lame. And please don't ever try that again."
She laughed again, softer this time. "No promises."
He peeked at her through his fingers, still flustered. Then, suddenly, something clicked.
He dropped his hand. Finding the perfect opportunity to test something.
"Nasa," he said quickly.
She blinked. "What?"
"A world without threads," he continued, words tumbling out too fast. "No essence, no powers, just technology and satellites and—"
She stared at him, genuinely confused. "Solace. What are you talking about?"
He stopped.
The moment deflated.
Since there was nothing like NASA in this world, he decided to use that as a word to see if she would react, but nothing happened.
"…Nothing," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
She studied him for a second longer, then shrugged. "Weird, but okay."
She stood up. "You should head back to your dorm soon. I'm going to mine."
She turned toward the door,
Then she walked out, the door sliding shut behind her with a soft hiss.
Solace lay back against the pillows, heart still racing.
"…What just happened?" he whispered to the empty room.