Finally, he closed his eyes, trying to ignore the fact that he could lock himself in the room and go to sleep in the other dimension. But he was so exhausted that he didn’t even consider the option. His normally agile mind simply surrendered to the exhaustion. After all, cities were exhausting enough on their own… and he’d finished using up what little energy he had left.

As Astrid returned to her daily chores, a hand caught her. The door slammed shut as Astrid was practically dragged into the room. Dalia, arms crossed and glared, immediately faced her.

— Dalia — How dare you bring Neo into my room?! —

Astrid didn’t even flinch. Her face was calm, the kind of calm that made even the fiercest warriors weigh their words.

— Astrid — Good morning to you too, dear. —

— Dalia — Don’t change the subject. You could have taken him to any other room, but no, it had to be mine! —

Astrid put a hand to her chin, pretending to think about it.

— Astrid — Hm… we could say it was an accident. —

— Dalia — It wasn’t! —

— Astrid — Okay, it wasn’t — she conceded with a mischievous smile — But is it really that bad? Nothing happened… or did it? —

Dalia snorted and looked away, too quickly for her own good.

— Dalia — Of course nothing happened! — Astrid smiled.

— Astrid — Wow, what a disappointment…—

— Dalia — Astrid! —

Astrid giggled, but then her expression softened. She walked over to her niece and brushed a strand of hair back with a motherly gesture.

— Astrid — Dalia, I know this makes you uncomfortable, but tell me the truth… Do you like Neo? —

— Dalia — That’s beside the point. —

— Astrid — Ah, then yes. —

Dalia clicked her tongue, but the blush on her face gave her away.

— Dalia — Astrid, seriously… I don’t want to talk about this. —

— Astrid — Well, I do — she said bluntly — Because I know you, Dalia. And I know you like him. —

Dalia opened her mouth to protest, but Astrid silenced her with a look.

— Astrid — You spent all night working with him, and don’t tell me it was just work, because I saw you this morning. I saw you sleeping, peacefully, curled up against him. — Dalia pressed her lips together.

— Dalia — I don’t know, Aunt. He’s… different. He’s not like the others. — Astrid nodded.

— Astrid — Exactly. — Dalia sighed, crossing her arms again.

— Dalia — Last night… while we were working… there was a strange moment. — Astrid raised an eyebrow, expectant.

— Dalia — I don’t know how to explain it. It was... like a game of looks. We were so focused on our projects, but every time we got up to look for this or that, our eyes met. When I realized it, he would look away, and I would do it too. As if... as if...—

— Astrid — Listen to me, Dalia. This boy has impressed your uncle. So much so that he doesn’t just want him as an apprentice, but as a disciple. Do you know how difficult that is? — Dalia nodded.

— Astrid —Your uncle sees something in him, and so do I. — Dalia looked down.

— Dalia — It scares me to think what would happen if I lose control of the situation — Astrid gave her hands a gentle squeeze.

— Astrid — Sometimes losing a little control isn’t so bad. — Dalia sighed, without responding.

Astrid smiled sweetly and patted him on the shoulder.

— Astrid — Think about it, dear. But not too much, or you’ll let it slip away. —

Astrid left the room, leaving Dalia alone with her thoughts and her heart beating faster than she would like to admit.

Dalia sank onto the bed, arms crossed over her face, trying to gather her thoughts. But there was no way. Neo was there, in her mind, etched like a stone statue.