Chapter 20 – The Art of Not Being Obvious (And Failing Miserably)

(Morana's POV)

Okay.

Cool.

Totally fine.

Astria was looking at me, but I wasn't going to overthink it.

It wasn't like my brain was short-circuiting or anything.

It wasn't like my stomach was doing stupid little flips.

Nope.

I was chill.

So chill that when Hael dragged me toward Astria and Aurelle, I didn't immediately turn and bolt in the other direction.

(I wanted to, though.)

"Hey," Hael greeted, all smug and annoying. "What a coincidence, running into you two here."

It wasn't a coincidence. He literally dragged me here.

Astria just blinked at us, looking way too composed, like she hadn't just been glaring holes into my soul five seconds ago.

"Morana," she said, her voice neutral.

"Astria," I replied, voice even more neutral.

Hael snorted. "Wow. That was the most awkward greeting I've ever witnessed."

Aurelle smirked, tilting her head as she watched me.

I didn't like that.

It felt like she knew something.

"So," Aurelle started, "how's your day been?"

Casual question. Easy to answer.

And yet, my dumbass brain glitched.

"Good," I said.

Simple. Straight to the point. Cool, even.

Then, because I apparently had no self-preservation, I kept talking.

"Yeah, good. You know, did some stuff. Existed. Breathed. Walked. As one does."

Silence.

Astria blinked.

Hael bit his lip like he was physically restraining laughter.

Aurelle straight-up smirked.

And me?

I wanted the earth to swallow me whole.

"Fascinating," Aurelle drawled. "You breathe? That's impressive."

Astria's lips twitched.

She was fighting a smile.

And now, I had two options:

1. Double down on the awkwardness.

2. Attempt to salvage whatever shred of dignity I had left.

Obviously, I went with Option 1.

"Yeah," I said, nodding seriously. "Breathing's a bit of a talent, really. Been doing it since birth. No big deal."

Hael lost it.

Astria actually smiled.

And Aurelle?

She just raised an eyebrow, watching me like she was trying to figure something out.

I did not like that.

So I did what any sane person would do.

I pivoted the conversation immediately.

"So, Aurelle," I blurted, "you and Astria—what's the story there?"

Astria stiffened.

Aurelle's smirk faltered.

And Hael—being the chaos-loving gremlin he was—leaned in, intrigued.

"Oh?" he said. "Yeah, what's the story there?"

Aurelle's eyes flickered to Astria. "She never told you?"

Astria exhaled sharply. "Aurelle."

I perked up. Oho.

This was getting interesting.

Aurelle just leaned back, crossing her arms. "Just wondering why you'd tell her and not Morana."

Astria's jaw tightened. "Because it's none of her business."

Ouch.

I shouldn't care.

I really, really shouldn't.

But it stung a little.

And Aurelle?

She noticed.

"Right," she mused. "None of her business. Got it."

Then, with a pointed smirk, she added, "You seem awfully defensive about it, though."

Astria scowled. "I am not."

"You kinda are," Hael chimed in.

Astria turned to glare at him. "No one asked you."

He grinned. "And yet, here I am."

I snorted.

Then immediately regretted it because Astria's eyes snapped to me.

And for some reason, I suddenly forgot how to function.

"Whatever," she muttered, looking away. "It's not important."

"Right," Aurelle said, tilting her head. "Because you've totally moved on."

A pause.

Astria didn't reply.

And maybe it was just my imagination…

But she looked a little guilty.

Huh.

Interesting.

Very interesting.