Chapter 41

The first rays of sunlight crept through the small window, casting a warm, golden hue on the room. Zedd groaned, stretching in the bed. His sleep had been light, and it didn't help that he was constantly on edge. He wasn't used to having companions—at least, not ones he cared about like Elara and Reina. He was still adjusting to the idea that they were important to him now, his responsibility. He couldn't let his guard down.

A loud bang on the door jolted him upright. He cursed under his breath, rubbing his eyes. The last thing he needed was a wake-up call from these two. He pushed the covers off and swung his legs to the side of the bed, but something felt... off.

As his feet hit the floor, Zedd glanced down at his left arm. He froze. His synthetic arm—a pale, white, lifeless limb—stared back at him, stark against the rest of his body. It was designed for function, not beauty, and the smooth surface of the synthetic tissue was an immediate giveaway that he wasn't entirely human.

In a panic, Zedd scanned the room. His glove, the one he usually wore to cover the synthetic arm, was nowhere to be found. His heart began to race. He couldn't let Elara and Reina see it—not yet. They were still so trusting of him, and he knew the moment they saw the artificial hand, their trust would shatter.

Desperation clawed at him as he quickly shoved his hand into his cloak pocket, hiding it as best as he could. The loud knocking on the door continued. He took one last deep breath and opened the door, trying to act as normal as possible.

Standing there, as expected, were Elara and Reina. Elara stood with her arms crossed, raising an eyebrow at him, while Reina looked hesitant, as though unsure of how to approach.

"Well, well," Elara began, her voice tinged with amusement. "And here we thought you were going to leave us and run away again."

Zedd, still half asleep and trying to keep his composure, smirked and responded quickly. "A real man never leaves his girls alone," he said, the words slipping out before he could process them.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Zedd froze. His eyes darted to Elara and Reina, and he noticed their faces flush a deep shade of red. Their ears turned pink, and Zedd realized, too late, the miscommunication that had just occurred. He had only meant to refer to them as his companions, his travel partners, but the way he had phrased it could easily be misunderstood. Elara and Reina looked at each other, eyes wide, and then back at him, confused and embarrassed.

Zedd, oblivious to the implications of what he had said, chuckled awkwardly. "Anyway, wait here. I'll be back in 10 minutes."

He didn't wait for a response and quickly closed the door, walking away from their confused stares. He needed to figure out what to do with his arm before he could even think of breakfast.

Zedd quickly scrambled to take a bath, the warm water soothing his tense muscles. He scrubbed himself clean and then brushed his teeth with hurried strokes, his mind racing as he tried to act as if everything were normal. He didn't have time to dwell on the awkwardness he had caused. Once he was done, he grabbed his cloak and quickly returned to the dining area, hoping Elara and Reina were still waiting for him.

As he entered the small tavern's dining area, he saw that Elara and Reina had already seated themselves at a table. Elara, still a bit flushed, avoided his gaze, while Reina seemed more curious than usual. Zedd noticed how their glances kept flicking toward him, and he couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of guilt. He knew they had misunderstood his words earlier, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He was already in too deep.

Taking a seat, Zedd gestured for them to order whatever they wanted. "Go ahead. I'll pay the bill," he said, trying to smooth things over.

Elara raised an eyebrow but said nothing, and Reina smiled shyly as she perused the menu. A few moments later, their food arrived, and they began eating eagerly. Zedd noticed their expressions soften as they dug into the food. It was a simple meal, but for them, it probably felt like a treat after the previous day's events. Zedd, however, didn't feel particularly hungry. His stomach wasn't growling, and with his synthetic enhancements, he didn't need food like humans did. But he still ate to blend in.

It was then that Elara's eyes narrowed suspiciously at him. She watched him carefully as he ate, but it wasn't his lack of appetite that caught her attention. It was something else.

"Hey, Zedd," she said, her voice a little sharper than usual. "Why are you only using your right hand?"

Zedd paused mid-bite, his throat going dry. He had been so careful to keep his left arm hidden, but now Elara had caught on. Panic started to rise in his chest, but he quickly forced himself to relax. His eyes flicked down to his plate, and he came up with a lie—one that he hoped would suffice.

"Ah, well," he started, choosing his words carefully. "I, uh... I got a muscle cramp, so I'm just resting my left hand. Nothing serious, just trying to give it a break."

It was a weak excuse, and he could already tell by the look on Elara's face that she didn't buy it. She tilted her head, not looking convinced in the slightest. "Sure," she said, her tone flat. "I'll believe that."

Zedd sighed in relief, thankful that Elara didn't push further. But Reina, ever the shy one, seemed a bit more eager to speak up.

"Zedd... can I ask you something?" Reina asked, her voice soft and hesitant.

Zedd looked up, meeting her eyes, and gave her a reassuring smile. "Of course, Reina. You can ask me anything," he said, trying to sound casual.

Reina hesitated for a moment, her gaze flicking between Zedd and Elara before speaking again. "Well... I just... I wanted to ask you about your past. I mean, you're always so mysterious, and we don't really know much about you. I... I want to know what happened to you."

Zedd's heart skipped a beat. His past was something he couldn't afford to share—not with them. Not yet. He had been running from it for so long, trying to bury it deep within himself, but he knew Reina's curiosity would only grow stronger.

"I'm sorry, Reina," he said softly, shaking his head. "You're allowed to ask me anything, but not about my past. Not yet. Maybe someday... but not today."

Reina's face fell slightly, but she nodded. "Okay... I understand."

Zedd gave her a small, apologetic smile. He knew he had to keep some things from them for now. If they knew the truth about him, about what he was, it would only make everything more complicated. And yet, despite that, part of him longed to share. But not today. Not yet.

As he sat there, the weight of his secret pressing on him, he couldn't shake the feeling that the bond between him and Elara and Reina was growing stronger. He wasn't sure how long it would last, or if it would survive the truth. But for now, he had them—and that was all that mattered.