"Truth Hurts, Doesn’t It?"

After a short while, all five were settled at the table. The atmosphere should have been warm—there was food on the table, and the scent of roasted meat and seasoned food filled the air—but the silence between them was suffocating.

Aramith picked up his spoon but didn't take a bite. He could feel the weight of Jade's glare boring into him from across the table. Lydan, her brother, sat beside her, his expression unreadable, but there was an unmistakable tension in his posture. A protective instinct that had him ready to strike at the slightest provocation.

"So... how many beasts did you get?" Lynnor suddenly asked Lydan out of the blue.

Lydan, the ever-calm one answered without a change in his expression "It was alright. I grabbed a few."

"I bet you got a lot. Can I have some?"

"No, they're for jade."

"Then I won't bathe you."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..." [Suddenly the crickets outside were quiet]

"Okay, I change my mind. I'll do it for you, okay?" She smiled sweetly at him.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..." [Suddenly the ants that were carrying some food away froze in shock]

"Or you want to bathe me instead?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..." [ Suddenly the bats opened their eyes to see her clearly]

"Tch!" She clicked her tongue after getting no response.

The silence dragged on for a while, and then Lynnor cleared her throat loudly. Everyone ignored her.

"Ahem!" 

She was ignored once again.

She cleared her throat a little too intensively this time and was thrown into fits of cough.

"Aheough! Cough! Cough!"

Aramith looked her way and saw her aggressively nodding at him. He pointed at himself to be sure and she nodded again.

She tried mouthing something, but coughed again when Lydan glanced at her. When Lydan drew his eyes from her, she blinked and raised her eyebrows to get Aramith's attention once more.

He watched her carefully this time as she mouthed the words.

"Cheeeeyy... Tok tu Jaaaaaaay. chi weeeel lisin do u" 

He quickly understood her after piecing things together.

"Jade. Talk to Jade. She will listen to you"

He nodded and prepared his mind and body for what he was about to do next. Mozrael noticed him take a deep breath and sigh loudly. She could already guess what he was about to do. She gently stepped on his foot and shook her head slightly, but he just smiled weakly and continued anyway.

This was spiraling fast. If Aramith didn't stop, it would only get worse. He always pushed too far. Couldn't he see it?

Aramith knew Jade wouldn't speak to him first. He wasn't even sure if she would acknowledge his presence. But still, he tried. This was a terrible idea. He knew it was. But if he kept avoiding her, it would only get worse. Right?

He shifted in his chair, steeling himself.

Jade noticed him. The weight of her glare hadn't lessened, and though she hadn't spoken a word, her silence was heavier than any insult she could've thrown.

"Jade," Aramith said, his voice even but careful.

Jade's fingers tightened around her knife, the pressure turning her knuckles white. She hadn't looked at him once since he spoke, but the way her shoulders tensed, the way her grip shifted slightly, she was ready to act.

"I wa-"

The blade left her hand. A silver blur. The sharp whistle of metal slicing through the air.

Thud.

The blade embedded itself in the wall behind him, the handle still quivering from the force.

Aramith didn't flinch. He just turned his head slightly, observing the knife lodged in the wood before looking back at her.

Jade hadn't moved. She didn't even look like she cared. She simply picked up another utensil and continued eating as if she hadn't just tried to skewer him.

Lydan's expression didn't change as he spoke calmly. "I'd say that was a warning shot, but I don't think she missed on purpose."

Aramith exhaled slowly, setting his spoon down. Mozrael was worried. 

Lynnor snickered. "Ohhh, so that's how it is? Aramith's chasing after a girl who doesn't like him. You're trying too hard, kid. But come on, Jade. Give the boy a chance. You even motivated his actions by showing your chest to him."

Lydan's expression changed in an instant. His eyes snapped to Lynnor, a dangerous glint in them. He didn't speak immediately. He set his spoon down with deliberate care, his fingers resting against the table. When he finally spoke, his voice was even more dangerous.

"Say that again." 

"Hehe," Lynnor laughed. She'd wanted that all along. "Well, your dearest sister put on quite the show for Aramith, but things took a different turn. Not the reaction she was hoping for, huh?" Her grin was maniacal.

Mozrael and Aramith stared in shock. Betrayal burned in Aramith's gaze toward Lynnor, and confusion filled Mozrael's as she looked at him. He felt her gaze and quickly looked at her. It's not true.

Jade didn't react, but Aramith could see the tension in her grip on the fork.

Lynnor, as always, pushed further. She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed behind her head. "Actually, no, that's not true. It's mainly 'cause he saw her chest, isn't it? Got nothing to do with him chasing her."

Jade froze mid-bite.

Lynnor grinned. "Yeah, yeah, that must be it. Poor thing. Flat as a board. And—" she pointed at Mozrael, who was quietly eating beside Aramith, "—she's younger than you but already got you beat. Bet she'll grow to have some nice Melons. The type that makes it impossible to see her feet. Damn I'm jealous"

The silence was immediate and suffocating.

Why me? Why now? Mozrael shrank into her chair, wishing she could disappear.

"Awww, she's shy." Lynnor chuckled at Mozrael's reaction. 

Jade's face burned red. She slammed her hands against the table and stood up so fast that her chair scraped against the floor.

"Leaving already? But you've barely eaten anything," Lynnor looked surprised as if she knew nothing of why Jade was displeased.

"Screw you, Lynnor!" she snapped.

Aramith, furious, turned to Lynnor. "What is wrong with you?" He was regretting staying every action.

Jade stormed out before anyone could say anything more. Lydan shot up after her, shoving his chair back so hard it nearly toppled over.

"You two stay away from her," he growled. "And you better be careful with what you say, Lynnor," he jabbed a finger at Lynnor before following Jade outside.

Jade stood at the edge of the open courtyard, her shoulders shaking. The cold night air did little to calm the storm of emotions raging inside her.

Lydan reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Jade—"

"I hate them," she whispered, her fists clenched. "I hate them so much. If Father were here-" Her lips trembled as she spoke, she was on the verge of crying, thinking of previous memories. Lydan reached her and held her hand gently. 

His silence was a calming presence. The peaceful atmosphere outside helped calm her nerves a bit, but she still felt a bit of anger thinking of the people inside the room.

"And Lynnor... I can't believe she was an accomplice of those people. She hid all that from us. I'm supposed to trust her, so why..."

"She will explain everything. I'm sure she has her reasons, but I want those people to leave first."

Behind them, footsteps approached.

Aramith.

Jade's grip on her brother's hand tightened.

Lydan turned before he could even speak. His fist collided with Aramith's jaw, sending him stumbling back a step.

Aramith didn't fight back. He barely even reacted.

Lydan hit him again.

Jade's fingers twitched at her side. Slowly, absently, her thumb brushed against the inside of her wrist. A rhythm. A habit. She didn't even realize she was doing it.

Lydan noticed. His fists trembled.

Then the final one.

Mozrael tried to rush forward, but Lynnor caught her wrist.

"Let go!" she snapped.

"Not this time, just take a look," Lynnor said firmly. "He's letting it happen."

Mozrael struggled against the grip, furious, but Aramith gave her a look—one that told her to stop. She was furious, not only at Lydan for hurting him, not at Jade for making her brother hate them, and certainly not at Lynnor for holding her back. She was angry at them all, herself included. And why was he trying to make them feel okay when he had no reason to?

Lydan breathed heavily, his fists trembling.

"If you're done," Aramith said quietly, wiping the blood from his lip, "I won't interrupt you two."

Lydan glared at him one last time before turning his back.

Jade didn't even react to the sound of Lydan's fists connecting with Aramith. She didn't hear anything. Her thumb was still pressed against her wrist.

Lydan took her hand. The movement stilled and they went back inside.

Aramith didn't go inside. Instead, he just sat on the ground, elbows resting on his knees, staring blankly at the sky. He wasn't even sure why he'd let Lydan hit him.

I won't interrupt you two...what did that accomplish?

"You look like hell, kid" Lynnnor stood over him at the doorway. 

"I don't know why I didn't expect that even though I expected that," he said, his voice flat. Lynnor had fueled his actions—but somehow, he couldn't bring himself to blame her

"What are you even mumbling about over there? Well, since you like it outside, I'll be closing my door. Can't let the cold wind come in and ruin the nice temperature. You can enter when you're done sulking...Then we'll talk." She went inside, closing the door behind her.

Mozrael came outside shortly after. She hesitated, then quietly sat beside him. 

For a long time, neither of them spoke.

Finally, he exhaled. "I thought I was doing the right thing."

Mozrael glanced at him. "You are," she tried to encourage him.

He shook his head. "I just don't know what to do. This is the first time I'm facing something like this and I'm not sure."

She swallowed hard, hating the fact that she had to see him like that.

"Don't think too much about it," she said softly. "You'll just get stuck in your head and...it's exhausting." She chose her words carefully.

Aramith didn't respond. But he didn't push her away either. They just sat in silence, until eventually, he sighed and got up.

"Let's go inside."