Valerian's gaze bore into mine, his eyes still alight with a fierce golden glow that sent shivers down my spine. His jaw was clenched, and the muscles in his neck tensed visibly as he surveyed the room, his protective shield dissipating with a flicker of his fingers.

"Why are you down here?" His voice was low, but it carried a weight that made me straighten instinctively.

“I…” I started to speak but the pounding in my head grew worse and I was forced to groan as I grabbed my head. Valerian's expression softened slightly at my distress, his concern evident in the furrow of his brow and the slight frown tugging at the corners of his lips.

"What happened?" His voice was softer now, filled with genuine worry as he took a step closer, reaching out as if to offer support. I winced, the memories still swirling chaotically in my mind like a storm refusing to relent. I knew I couldn’t tell Valerian the truth, but what could I possibly say?

Valerian's hand hovered in the air, as if unsure whether to touch me or not. His concern was palpable, his worry etched into the lines of his face. I could feel the weight of his gaze, searching mine for answers I couldn't give.

"It's... the mirror," I managed to choke out between the throbbing ache in my head. "It... it started forcing images into my head when I touched it."

Valerian's brow furrowed even deeper, his eyes narrowing in thought. 

"That's strange," he murmured, almost to himself. "It's never reacted to being touched before."

I nodded weakly, grateful for his understanding, even if it was based on a partial truth. The last thing I wanted was to worry him further, especially when I couldn't make sense of the chaos in my own mind.

"Are you alright?" Valerian's voice cut through the haze of my thoughts, pulling me back to the present moment. His concern was genuine, his eyes searching mine for any sign of distress. I forced a weak smile, despite the lingering pain.

"I'll be fine," I reassured him, though the words felt hollow even to my own ears.

Valerian didn't look convinced, but he didn't press further. Instead, he reached out a hand, his touch gentle as he brushed a stray strand of hair from my forehead. The warmth of his touch was comforting, grounding me in the midst of the turmoil swirling inside my mind.

After a moment, I felt the pain start to fade away and I sighed with relief, leaning more into his touch. I didn't think much of my actions as I grabbed his hand and pressed it to my face, closing my eyes and almost sighing with the relief it gave. I still couldn't really focus on any of the memories, but at least I could now hear myself think. 

“Javier, wha-”

“This helps,” I muttered, not caring how I was acting. All that mattered was that Valerian's touch was easing the pain in my head. “Please.”

“I…” The tone of Valerian's voice made me open my eyes, but my words got stuck in my throat. I could see the reflection of my own ice blue eyes in his golden ones and my heart pounded in my chest. In that moment, memories of Valerian flooded my mind and I closed my eyes again with the pain. It seemed the other two had mostly avoided Valerian, confused and wary of the strange aura he gave off and seemed to think he was tied to the calamity that this world was doomed to face. 

I know better. I sighed, reopening my eyes to see the worry on his face. The Goddess was the source of the incoming disaster and while I had no Idea what made Valerian so different yet, I knew he had nothing to do with it. Besides, if the other two avoided him, then shouldn't I do the opposite and get close to him anyway? 

“Javier?”

“Yes, Valerian?” I answered, my voice softer and huskier than I meant it to be. Valerian's eyes seemed to widen with confusion and worry, but I caught a hint of a smile on his lips. 

“We should probably head back up. Whatever the mirror did to you, all of its magic is gone and I think the Royal Physician should get a look at you,” Valerian suggested, but I noticed he didn't move his hand from my face. “You haven't unlocked your magic yet, so I'm a little worried about what it might have done.” 

“Won’t you get in trouble?” I asked, unable to help my frown.

“With the Empress coming down here, I was bound to get caught eventually,” Valerian shrugged, but I could see he didn’t like the idea of getting in trouble with the Emperor and Empress, especially if I was hurt. He was probably blaming himself for trying to fix the mirror in the first place, and my frown deepened as I finally pulled his hand away from my face.

As soon as his hand left my skin, the pain returned but it was nearly as intense as before. I took a deep breath as I tried to steady myself, giving Valerian the best smile I could. 

“What if you take me back to my room and I’ll have Rael call for the Physician?” I suggested, seeing the resistance in Valerian’s expression. “His room is right next to mine, so all I have to do is knock on the wall to get his attention.”

“Javier–”

“It’ll be fine, and besides, the last thing I want is for you to come around less,” I stated matter-of-factly, watching closely to see Valerian’s reaction. His eyes widened with my words, a flicker of surprise crossing his features before he regained his composure. I could tell he was grappling with conflicting emotions, torn between wanting to keep me safe and not wanting to risk further trouble.

"Alright," he relented, finally nodding. "But if anything feels off, anything at all, promise me you will say something, okay?"

I nodded, grateful for his concern, and together we made our way out of the dimly lit chamber and back into the corridors of the palace. Valerian walked beside me, his presence a comforting anchor amidst the chaos swirling in my mind. He held my hand tightly in his and if not for the pain in my skull, I would’ve been delighted. I couldn't help but steal glances at him, feeling childish in my behavior to look at him. 

As if I couldn’t be anymore obvious.

The journey back to my room felt like an eternity, every step punctuated by the echoing thud of my own heartbeat and the pain in my head. When we finally reached the door to my chamber, relief washed over me as I remembered the soft sheets of my bed. But as I reached for the handle, a voice cut through the silence like a knife.

"Javier?" Rael's voice was sharp, tinged with both surprise and suspicion. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest as I turned to face him, my mind racing for an explanation. Valerian quickly stepped forward, his posture tense but composed. 

"I found Javier lost in the west wing," he began, his voice steady despite the lie slipping effortlessly from his lips. "His Highness was starting to complain of a headache and nearly stumbled, so I offered to escort him back to his room."

"Is everything alright?" Rael’s eyes flickered between us, but his concern was genuine as he stepped closer. I forced a smile, my throat tight with nerves as I gripped Valerian’s hand tightly.

"The pain is… manageable," I replied, hoping my voice didn't betray the lie. "Luckily, Sir Heskel’s magic seems to offer a bit of relief."

"I'll call for the physician," Rael answered immediately, his tone firm as he opened the door to my room, ushering us both inside. "Sir Valerian, I ask that you remain by his side while I fetch Sir Tasar."

“Of course,” Valerian answered smoothly, and we both watched as Rael disappeared down the hall. I looked up to see the smirk on Valerian’s face, some of his usual demeanor slipping back into his expression. “That went better than expected.”

I chuckled softly, relieved to see a hint of levity return to Valerian's features despite the tense situation. 

"You're quite the natural at spinning stories on the spot," I remarked, leaning against the doorframe for support as the pain ebbed and flowed in my head. Valerian grinned, the golden glint in his eyes dancing with amusement even as he gently walked me over to the couch. As soon as he was sure I wouldn’t fall over, Valerian quickly sat beside me, still holding my hand as he spoke.

"Years of practice," he replied with a wink, though I could detect a trace of genuine warmth beneath the playful facade. His words were like a soothing balm to my weary soul, and I found myself leaning into his touch, not caring how I looked as I leaned my head on his shoulder. After a moment, I felt Valerian release my hand as he brought his back to my face and I sighed with relief as I closed my eyes. Surely Valerian would move his hand to my forehead if he heard Rael returning, and I quite liked feeling him touch my face. “Javier.”

“Hmm?”

“You…” Valerian’s voice trailed off again and I was tempted to open my eyes, but I decided not to. It was clear that Valerian wanted to ask me a question, but he either changed his mind or decided it was better to let me rest in silence. Either way, I felt my breathing slow as I leaned against him until eventually, I was asleep.