Chapter 3 Echoes Of Silence

CHAPTER THREE

The soft morning light crept into the room, spilling over the stone walls of the training hall as Nahila stood near the open window, gazing at the quiet landscape. Her mind, however, was far from peaceful. Ronan... The name echoed in her thoughts, dragging her back to yesterday when she overheard whispers about his death. The weight of it crushed her chest, but there was something else weighing on her mind, something she didn't want to admit even to herself.

Aysa, sensing Nahila's discomfort, walked over to her and leaned against the wall casually. "What's wrong with you today?" she asked, her tone light but concerned.

Nahila's lips pressed into a thin line. She didn't want to talk about Roland-not today. Not with everything that was already weighing on her. "Nothing. I'm fine."

"You're not fine," Aysa countered, crossing her arms. "I can see it in your face. What's really bothering you?"

Nahila sighed, turning away from the window and facing Aysa. "I don't get it," she muttered. "Sometimes fate just goes wrong."

Aysa raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Nahila began, her voice colder than usual, "Ronan and Eira were meant to be. He didn't deserve to go out like that, you know?"

Aysa frowned, understanding the underlying sentiment, but not entirely sure where Nahila was going with this. "But... fate's funny, Nahila. It doesn't always make sense, but it is what it is. You can't control it."

"Fate's a lie," Nahila snapped before she could stop herself. "Sometimes it's just... wrong."

Her eyes narrowed, a deep frown tugging at her features.

Does fate make sense? Does it ever? She couldn't reconcile the way Kael seemed to look at her sometimes-like he wanted something more-and the way she felt for him. But that wasn't the problem. Ira deserves better. She couldn't let Kael become another source of pain. It wasn't about fate; it was about the choices she made.

Aysa remained silent for a moment, watching her closely, trying to process what Nahila was saying. Finally, she stepped forward. "What are you really trying to say? It's... not like you to get so worked up over things like this."

Nahila took a deep breath, trying to calm the swirling emotions inside her. She didn't want to reveal the full truth-not to Aysa, not to anyone. "I'm saying... I'm not letting anyone else get hurt because of me," she said, her voice softening slightly.

Aysa's eyes narrowed in concern. "You're not making sense, Nahila.

Nahila turned away before Aysa could see the flicker of confusion in her eyes. It's not about Kael. It's not. "Let's just train. Laxton's waiting for us," she said, her voice firm.

The training hall was alive with energy as Nahila stepped into the arena, trying to shake off the lingering thoughts of fate.Her teammates were already in place, preparing for their session. Laxton stood at the center of the room, clipboard in hand, watching everyone carefully.

"Alright, Nahila," Laxton called, scanning the room. "You're with Thorne for the sparring match. Get in there and show him what you've got."

Nahila's stomach tightened. She didn't like sparring with Thorne-not because he was a bad fighter, but because his constant teasing made it hard to focus. She shot him a quick, pointed glare as she walked toward the ring, her eyes flickering over the others as they watched her. She could feel the weight of their gaze-expectant, knowing. Thorne, ever the provocateur, flashed a grin at her.

"Ready to lose again, Nahila?" he teased, his voice light, mocking.

She didn't respond immediately,her jaw settled in determination. I won't lose this time, she thought, forcing herself to focus. The moment Laxton gave the signal, they both moved into position, ready to fight. But just as she was about to make the first move, a sudden presence at the edge of the ring caught her attention.

Kael.

He was standing there, his arms crossed, watching them with an intensity that sent a sudden flutter through Nahila's chest. She couldn't stop her gaze from shifting toward him, despite herself. She saw him standing there, his dark eyes locked on her with an unreadable expression. It was the way he always looked at her-like he could see right through her.

Thorne, ever the opportunist, noticed the shift in her attention and smirked. "Look at me, Nahila, not your crush," he taunted, his voice low but playful.

That was the breaking point.

Without warning, Nahila spun on her heel, her body moving with precision and strength. She grabbed Thorne's wrist in one swift motion, twisting it sharply, using the force of her movement to throw him off balance. He landed with a loud thud stunned by the speed and power of her strike.

The room fell into a stunned silence. Thorne lay there for a moment, stunned, staring up at her with wide eyes. He didn't speak, and neither did anyone else. Nahila didn't say a word either. She simply let go of his wrist, her chest heaving with the force of her reaction, and walked out of the ring.

She didn't look back. She couldn't.

Not a gloat. Not a warning.

She turned, stepped out of the ring, and walked away like it was nothing.

Everyone stared after her. Even Kael.

After the sparring, Kael eventually found her in the hallway, near the mess hall's edge, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

"You didn't hold back," he said.

Nahila didn't look at him. "I wasn't supposed to."

"You nearly dislocated his shoulder."

"He talks too much."

Kael chuckled under his breath. "Fair."

A pause. Then, he held out a wrapped ration. "Want something to eat?"

She shook her head. "Not hungry."

"You should still eat."

She glanced at him briefly, then away. "I said I'm fine."

There was a pause.

"Alright," Kael said simply. He didn't push. He just set the food down beside her on the bench.

"You looked focused in the ring," he added. "Sharp."

Nahila gave a small nod. "That's the point."

And that was it. No emotion. No softness. Just cool detachment.

Kael lingered for a second longer, watching her, then left without another word.

She didn't pick up the food. She stayed exactly where she was.

just as Kael left Aysa flopped onto the bench, running a hand through her damp hair. "Okay, seriously-did you have to go that hard on Thorne? You nearly took his leg off."

Nahila pulled off her gloves, jaw tight. "He left an opening."

Aiva, lounging nearby with a healing salve in hand, snorted. "Pretty sure he left with a limp too."

Nahila didn't respond.

Aysa arched a brow. "You only get that vicious when Kael's watching."

Nahila stiffened.

Aiva smirked. "He was watching, by the way. Didn't blink once. Looked like he wanted to be in the ring instead of Thorne."

"I wasn't performing for anyone," Nahila snapped, grabbing a towel.

"Sure," Aiva drawled. "And I'm the Moon Alpha."

Aysa nudged her. "Cut it out. Nah's not into the whole swoon-and-blush thing."

Aiva grinned. "No, she's more of a growl-and-maim type."

Nahila shot them both a glare. "You two done?"

Aysa softened. "We're just looking out for you. Ever since Eira-"

Nahila's hands curled around the towel. "That's exactly why I can't afford distractions."

She slung her jacket over her shoulder and walked out, the echo of padded footsteps following her.

Aiva leaned over to Aysa and whispered, "So... she does like him."

Aysa rolled her eyes. "Obviously."

Just as Kael got back he stood in the doorway for a moment, his heart heavy, his mind racing. The room was quiet except for the soft rustling of the sheets as Eira shifted. She didn't look up when he entered, but her posture told him she was awake, as still and silent as ever. The weight of her grief hung in the air, palpable.

He set the tray of food down beside her, the faint scent of bread and stew mingling with the stagnant tension. The food might as well have been a gift from a stranger, its warmth no match for the cold silence between them.

"I brought food," Kael said softly, the words coming out as little more than a breath. "You haven't eaten since yesterday, and I thought-"

"I know," Eira cut him off quietly, her voice rough with exhaustion. Her gaze remained fixed ahead, distant, as though seeing something far beyond the walls of the room. "I know you didn't pull the trigger."

Kael's breath caught in his throat. He hadn't expected her to say it outright, yet hearing her acknowledge it felt like both a relief and a weight. He hadn't been able to say those words himself, but she had. It was a small thing, but in that moment, it felt like the foundation of something fragile between them.

He stepped closer but didn't sit, keeping a careful distance. "I wasn't the one who fired it. I know it doesn't change anything, but-"

Eira turned slightly, her red-rimmed eyes finding his for the first time. Her expression was unreadable, but her voice was steady when she spoke. "It changes something for me. I never thought you could do that. Not even then."

Kael swallowed, feeling the knot in his chest tighten. "I didn't want to be part of this, Eira. I didn't want any of this. But I was there. And I couldn't stop it."

"I know." Her words were almost a whisper, as though they were meant only for him. "I can't blame you for what you couldn't control. I can't..."

She trailed off, and the silence crept back in, thick and suffocating. Kael could feel the weight of her grief like a physical presence between them, an insurmountable wall.

He cleared his throat, trying to steady the tremor in his voice. "You don't have to talk about it. I just wanted you to know that I'm here. If you need anything."

Eira didn't answer. She reached for the bread, her fingers trembling ever so slightly as she broke off a piece. She ate it slowly, methodically, her gaze returning to that distant point in space, as though the world around her had ceased to exist.

Kael sat at the edge of the bed, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. There were a thousand things he wanted to say, a thousand apologies and reassurances, but none of them seemed enough. None of them could heal the wound that Ronan's death had carved into Eira's heart.

"I know you're angry," Kael said quietly, the words tumbling out before he could stop them. "I've hurt you. I've let you down. But I want to make it right, Eira. I can't bring him back, but I want to make sure you don't have to carry this alone."

Her eyes flicked to him again, but this time, there was something softer in them. She didn't say anything, but the tiniest shift in her posture told him that, for the first time since he walked in, she wasn't completely closed off.

"I'm not angry at you," Eira said after a long pause, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what I am anymore. I'm just... lost."

Kael nodded, his own heart breaking at her vulnerability. He wasn't sure what to say next, what could even make this better. So, instead of speaking, he sat there, offering her the only thing he could-his presence.

The minutes stretched on, until Kael finally stood, unable to bear the tension any longer.

"I'll be outside," he said, his voice barely audible. "Rest."

Eira didn't acknowledge him, but he saw her shoulders sag in the quiet, a small sign that she was letting herself feel, letting herself be seen.

As Kael stepped out, he leaned against the wall just outside her door, closing his eyes briefly as if trying to push away the weight of the conversation. His mind was still swirling with questions, doubts, and unanswered fears. The one thing he knew for sure was that Ronan's death had changed everything.

But there was one more thing. Ronan's body had disappeared.

And Kael was determined to find out why.