Chapter 57

Eska sits outside, alone in the small plaza just beyond the infirmary doors. The distant hum of voices filters through the air, but no one lingers here.

Everyone is too busy tending to the wounded inside.

She exhales, resting her arms over her knees, letting the cool air brush against her skin. The exhaustion sits heavy in her body, but she doesn't want to rest.

Not yet.

Footsteps approach. She looks up.

Valen walks toward her, carrying two small, cloth-wrapped bundles. He stops in front of her, offering one out.

She blinks, surprised, before hesitantly taking it. The fabric is warm in her hands. She glances at it, then at him, eyes narrowing slightly.

"Don't tell me you've never seen a sandwich before," Valen says, smirking.

Eska pouts playfully. "Of course I have," she huffs, turning the bundle over in her hands before giving him a pointed look. "I just didn't know you knew I was here."

Valen shrugs, unwrapping his own food as he sits beside her. "I had to ask around," he admits. "Figured you were hungry."

Eska nods, already peeling the cloth away from hers. "You figured correct."

She takes a big bite, her expression immediately softening into a contented smile as she chews. The bread is soft, the filling rich and savory, far better than anything she's had in a long time.

Valen, calmer about it, takes a bite of his own, chewing slowly. Silence settles between them, comfortable and unspoken.

After a few bites, Valen exhales, his fingers fidgeting slightly around the cloth still wrapped around his sandwich. "I—" He pauses, as if searching for the right words. "I've asked Ciel if you can move in with her."

Eska freezes mid-bite.

Her gaze drops, her smile vanishing. "Oh."

She knew something had to be done. They couldn't leave her alone in that place—not that she wants to be alone.

This is probably for the best.

Valen continues, his voice softer now. "She agreed. In fact, she was delighted to accept." He chuckles, a little nervous, but trying to push past it. "She was pretty angry when I decided to discharge you, though."

Eska turns toward him, the weight of the day settling in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she murmurs.

Valen meets her gaze, confusion flickering across his face, his brows furrowing slightly. "For what?"

Eska looks down at her sandwich, her fingers tightening around it. "For not fighting the way I did against the Queen… If I had from the beginning, maybe—"

She stops as Valen moves, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

He looks away, his voice low. "I know it's hard. Losing someone, seeing what you saw out there. Thinking it's all your fault for not being better." He pauses, drawing in a slow breath. Then, he turns to her, his eyes steady.

"'I could have done better. I should have done better.' Those are things I tell myself every time this happens. But you can't let those thoughts eat you up."

His grip around her tightens slightly. "Whatever you tell yourself, you also have to include what you did do. You might think it wasn't enough, but if it wasn't for you, the Queen would have killed many more. Me included."

His words settle in the space between them, quiet but unwavering. Then, he offers her a small, warm smile.

The tension in her shoulders, the knot in her chest—it all unravels, dissolving under his touch, under his words. Her breath hitches, her fingers loosening from the tight grip they had on her sandwich.

She leans into him, her body giving in to the warmth of his embrace, her weight settling against him as the exhaustion finally catches up.

They sit there for a while, neither speaking, just existing in the quiet.

After a few minutes they finish eating, neither in a rush to move, simply enjoying each other's company.

Valen then tells her. "How about we head to the cathedral? I'm sure by now your mom's been told that you've been given permission to see her."

Valen doesn't turn his head, just shifts his eyes toward her, half-lidded, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Eska's gaze snaps to him, her eyes widening. Then, as the words fully register, her expression explodes into a wide smile.

Without hesitation, she jumps to her feet, practically bouncing with excitement. "What are we waiting for!?" she exclaims, grabbing Valen's arm and tugging on him to move faster.

He just laughs, standing at his own pace, letting her pull him along as they make their way toward the cathedral.

They reach the massive cathedral, its towering presence casting long shadows across the plaza. Eska's excitement bubbles over as she pulls on Valen, nearly dragging him along, her steps light, energy radiating from her in a way that turns more than a few heads.

Valen can feel the stares.

A few people whisper as they pass, their eyes flicking between the normally composed knight and the white-haired girl practically bouncing beside him.

The realization hits, and instinct kicks in—his posture straightens, his pace slows, and his usual calm demeanor settles back into place.

Still, there's heat at the tips of his ears, and when he catches himself smiling, he quickly looks away, clearing his throat.

Eska sees everything. Her steps slow with his as a mischievous smile spreads across her face.

"Oh, the big tough paladin can't be caught enjoying himself, can he?" she teases, tilting her head.

Valen exhales, closing his eyes for a brief moment before taking a deep breath. He doesn't take the bait. "Let's go inside," he says, his voice even.

Eska just lets out a slight laugh but doesn't push further. She turns back toward the cathedral, her excitement still thrumming beneath her skin, and continues forward.

They step into the elevator, the old mechanism groaning softly as it begins its slow descent. The ride takes a while, the hum of gears and the faint vibration beneath their feet the only signs of movement.

Neither of them speaks.

When the doors finally open, they step out into a dimly lit hallway.

Closed doors line the corridor, each identical, solid and unmarked. No voices leak through the gaps, no footsteps echo beyond the walls.

Just silence.

Eska's gaze flickers to Valen. He glances at her and gives a small, reassuring nod before continuing through the hallway.

They reach a door, and Valen takes hold of the doorknob. The moment his fingers make contact, thin lines of magic pulse across the surface, tracing intricate patterns before fading back into the wood. He twists the knob, and the door unlocks with a quiet click.

Pushing it inward, he steps aside, beckoning Eska to follow.

She steps inside and Valen closes the door behind them. Her eyes widen as she takes in the space.

The room is large but simple. A small kitchen sits against the far wall, its counters clean, with neatly arranged cookware and a single stove. To the left, a bed is tucked against the corner, the blankets smooth, a few personal belongings resting on a nearby nightstand. A bookcase stands beside it, partially filled with a modest collection of books.

Near the center of the room, a worn but well-kept sofa faces a low table, and sitting on it, legs crossed, is Oblea.

She sips from a cup, a book open in her free hand, the pages illuminated by the soft glow of a nearby lamp. She doesn't look up immediately, simply flipping the page, exuding the quiet patience of someone who already knows who's entered.

"Can't you people just—" Oblea starts, her voice laced with mild irritation as she lowers her book.

Then she sees her.

Eska stands frozen, her golden eyes wide, shimmering with unshed tears that blur the sight of the woman before her.

In the blink of an eye, her mother is already there, wrapping her in a fierce embrace.

Eska expects the embrace, her arms already wrapping around her. The moment they collide, warmth surrounds her, strong arms pulling her in, grounding her.

She presses her face into Oblea's shoulder, nuzzling against her as if to make sure she's real. Her grip tightens, unwilling to let go, unwilling to let the moment slip away.

"Oh, Eska…" Oblea's voice wavers, the words spilling out before she can stop them. She holds her tighter, her fingers pressing into Eska's back as if she could shield her from whatever had already happened. "What did they do to you?"

Eska doesn't answer.

She just clings to her, silent, unmoving, unwilling to let go.