The tower door closed behind Ethan with a sharp sound.
The evening air felt colder below. More tangible.
He descended the last few steps, his heart heavy. He wasn't sure if the conversation had been a breakthrough or just reopened an old wound.
Crossing the threshold into the courtyard, he saw her.
Lissana was leaning against the stone wall, looking at the horizon tinged with orange. The wind softly tousled her dark hair. She seemed unsurprised to see him.
As if she had known he would emerge at that exact moment.
Ethan stopped a few steps away from her.
“Thank you for letting us talk,” he said at last.
Lissana nodded serenely.
“It had to be done.”
A brief silence followed. It wasn't uncomfortable, just measured.
Ethan studied her more closely than before. He no longer saw only t
