What To Say

Kael's feet remained firmly planted as Eryon continued to chatter, his words spilling out in an excited torrent. Each sentence felt like a gust of wind, circling Kael but failing to move him forward. Jane's presence, so close yet seemingly unreachable, held him captive in a different way.

"And he's not just smart—he's strong too!" Eryon exclaimed, looking back at Jane with wide, earnest eyes. "You should have seen him in the woods. There was this shimmer thing, and he just… handled it. Like it was nothing."

Jane tilted her head slightly, her expression calm but thoughtful. "A shimmer thing?" she echoed, her voice soft but firm. "What do you mean by that?"

Eryon hesitated for a fraction of a second, his excitement briefly faltering under Jane's scrutiny. "It was… I don't know, like magic or something. It was weird, but Kael—uh, my friend—he wasn't scared at all. He just figured it out."

Jane's eyes flickered briefly toward Kael, her gaze sharp yet unreadable. "That's impressive," she said, though her tone was guarded. "Not many people can face something unknown like that without hesitation."

Kael swallowed hard, his throat dry. She doesn't know it's me. Of course, she doesn't. Why would she?

Eryon, undeterred by the weight of the moment, barreled forward. "Yeah! And he's been helping me train too. You know how everyone says I'm too little to do anything important? Well, not him. He actually listens to me—and he thinks I can be great someday."

Jane's expression softened, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She crouched slightly, placing both hands on Eryon's shoulders. "You've always been great, Eryon," she said gently. "Sometimes it just takes the right person to see it."

Eryon's grin widened, his cheeks flushing slightly under the praise. "I told you, Jane. He's different."

Her eyes flicked toward Kael again, her gaze lingering a moment longer this time. Kael's stomach twisted as he felt the weight of her attention, but he still couldn't bring himself to step forward or speak.

"Different can be good," Jane said, her words measured. "But it can also mean complicated."

Eryon tilted his head, his youthful exuberance momentarily giving way to curiosity. "What do you mean?"

Jane straightened, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she glanced back at the boy. "Just that people who stand apart often carry burdens others don't see. It's not always easy to be different."

Her words struck a chord deep within Kael, and he clenched his fists at his sides. She doesn't even know how right she is.

Eryon seemed to consider her words for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I guess. But he's still the coolest."

Jane chuckled softly, her smile returning. "If you say so, Eryon. He must be pretty special if he's got you singing his praises like this."

Eryon turned back toward Kael, waving him over again. "Come on, you've gotta say something! Don't just stand there like a statue!"

Kael's heart pounded in his chest as he took a hesitant step forward, his mind racing. What do I say? What can I say?

Kael stepped forward, each movement feeling like he was dragging his feet through mud. His mind raced, every possible thing he could say bouncing around like an out-of-control pinball. Just speak. Say something normal. Anything. But what was "normal" in this situation?

"Uh… hi," he said finally, his voice cracking slightly.

Eryon beamed, clearly oblivious to the tension Kael was radiating. "See? He talks! Told you he wasn't just some silent warrior."

Jane's lips quirked into a polite smile as she regarded Kael, her sharp emerald eyes seeming to take his measure in an instant. "Hi," she replied, her tone calm but cautious. "So, you're the mysterious friend Eryon's been raving about."

Kael swallowed hard, his throat dry as he tried to find his footing. "I, uh… yeah, I guess," he managed, shifting awkwardly on his feet. Smooth. Real smooth.

Eryon jumped in to fill the silence, his excitement undimmed. "He's not just a friend—he's a genius! You should've seen him in the archives. He figured out this weird pedestal thing, like, instantly. And then in the woods—"

"Eryon," Jane interrupted gently, holding up a hand. "Maybe give him a chance to speak for himself?"

Eryon froze, looking between Jane and Kael, then grinned sheepishly. "Oh. Right. Sorry."

Kael exhaled, the brief reprieve giving him a moment to gather his thoughts. He scratched the back of his head, avoiding Jane's piercing gaze. "I'm not really, uh… that interesting," he said, his words stumbling over themselves. "I just kind of… end up where I end up."

Jane tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. "That's a vague answer."

Kael winced internally. Of course, it's vague. You can't exactly tell her the truth, can you?

"Yeah, well, I'm not great at… talking," he admitted, his hand dropping awkwardly to his side. "Not used to, uh, meeting new people."

Eryon rolled his eyes dramatically. "Come on, Kael. You've been talking to me just fine!"

Kael glanced at the boy, then back at Jane, who was watching him with a faintly amused expression. "You're… easier to talk to," he said, the words tumbling out before he could stop them.

Jane raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a small smile. "Easier than me? That's a first."

Kael's face grew hot, and he stumbled over his next words. "I didn't mean it like that! I just—he's a kid, and, uh, kids are… different."

Eryon crossed his arms, pretending to look offended. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Kael groaned softly, running a hand down his face. "Forget I said anything."

Jane laughed then, a light, melodic sound that made Kael's chest tighten. "Relax," she said, her voice softening. "I'm just teasing."

Kael nodded quickly, still avoiding her gaze. "Right. Yeah. Got it."

Eryon, ever the opportunist, jumped back into the conversation. "So, Kael, what do you think of Jane? Pretty awesome, right?"

Kael's eyes widened, and he stammered, "Uh, yeah, sure. I mean—yeah, obviously." Kill me now.

Jane chuckled again, the sound light and easy. "High praise," she said, though her tone was more amused than flattered.

Kael wanted to disappear, the weight of her attention making it hard to breathe. "Look, I just… I'm not great at this kind of thing," he muttered, shifting uncomfortably. "But, uh, it's nice to meet you."

Jane's smile softened, and she extended a hand toward him. "Nice to meet you too, Kael."

He stared at her hand for a moment, the simple gesture somehow feeling like the most daunting thing in the world. Finally, he reached out and shook it, her grip firm but warm.

As their hands parted, Eryon grinned triumphantly. "See? I told you this was a good idea!"

Kael gave the boy a sidelong glance, a mix of gratitude and exasperation. "Sure. Let's go with that."

Kael shifted his weight awkwardly, his hands fidgeting at his sides. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, and finally worked up the courage to ask something—anything—to break the tension.

"Uh… do you know someone named Lysa?" he asked, his voice quieter than he intended.

Jane's brow furrowed slightly, her head tilting as she searched her memory. "Lysa?" she repeated, her tone thoughtful. "I don't think so. Why?"

Kael shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "She's… someone I know. She asked me to find you."

Jane's expression shifted, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "She sent you here? To Eclipsevane?"

"Yeah," Kael said, scratching the back of his neck. "She said she wanted me to check on you, make sure you were okay."

Jane blinked, clearly taken aback by the statement. "That's… surprising," she said softly, her gaze narrowing slightly. "Most people wouldn't go through the trouble."

Kael hesitated, unsure how much he should say. How do I even explain this without giving everything away? "Lysa… she cares about people," he said finally. "And she thought it was important. So… here I am."

Jane studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she smiled faintly, though there was a touch of sadness in it. "Well, it sounds like she's lucky to have someone like you."

Kael shifted uncomfortably, not knowing how to respond. "It's nothing," he muttered. "I'm just doing what she asked."

Eryon, who had been listening intently, chimed in. "See? I told you he's awesome! He came all this way just because someone asked him to. Who does that?"

Jane gave a small laugh, her eyes softening as she looked back at Kael. "Apparently, he does."

Kael glanced away, his chest tightening at the weight of her gaze. Why does it feel like she can see straight through me?

Kael cleared his throat, trying to push past the awkwardness. "There's also someone else. Someone named Meryn. Do you know her?"

Jane's expression shifted immediately. Her eyes sharpened, and her relaxed posture grew tense. "Meryn?" she repeated, her tone suddenly serious.

Kael nodded, confused by the change in her demeanor. "Yeah, she's from the same village as Lysa. They're close friends."

Jane's gaze flickered with something Kael couldn't quite place—recognition, maybe, but laced with something heavier. She pressed her lips together for a moment before nodding. "I know Meryn," she said carefully, her voice quieter now. "She's… someone I owe a lot to."

Eryon glanced between them, his curiosity piqued. "Wait, who's Meryn? She sounds important."

Jane gave Eryon a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "She is," she said simply, before turning her attention back to Kael. "You've really come a long way, haven't you?"

Kael shrugged, unsure how to respond. "I guess. It wasn't easy."

Jane studied him for a moment, her piercing gaze seeming to weigh something in her mind. Finally, she let out a soft sigh. "Kael," she said, her tone firm but not unkind, "we need to talk. Later. Tonight."

Kael blinked, caught off guard. "Tonight?"

Jane nodded, her expression unreadable. "There's too much to say here. Meet me in the east wing after dark. I'll find you."

Eryon's eyes widened with excitement. "Whoa, secret nighttime meetings? That sounds so cool!"

Jane chuckled softly, ruffling Eryon's hair. "It's just a conversation," she said, though her tone hinted at something more. She looked back at Kael, her emerald eyes locking onto his. "Don't forget. East wing. After dark."

Kael nodded slowly, his mind racing. "Alright," he said, though the word felt heavier than it should have.

Jane gave him one last look before turning back to Eryon, her demeanor lightening as she asked about his latest adventures. But Kael remained rooted in place, the weight of her words settling over him like a storm cloud.