CHAPTER TEN: THREADS OF THE UNHEARD (Part three)
Yolti stood at the window, arms folded against the night air leaking through the old stone.
The stars were faint tonight—distant, veiled.
Like even they were watching from a memory they couldn't return to.
She reached out slowly, letting her fingers drift just above the sill.
A soft light pulsed from her palm.
Not bright.
Not flaring.
Just… steady.
The same way she used to practice,
when no one was looking.
When the Lyceum still felt like it might choose her back.
Kaelen glanced over.
"You ever going to cast that for real?"
Yolti didn't smile.
"I already did," she said.
Voice flat.
Real.
Kaelen tilted his head.
"When?"
She closed her fingers around the light—snuffing it out instantly.
"When it didn't help."
The dorm stayed quiet after that.
Zephryn didn't move.
Selka didn't look up.
Even Bubbalor, resting near the corner, lowered its head deeper into its paws.
Yolti turned from the window.
She didn't say sorry.
She just looked at Kaelen like she used to—
when they were kids,
before titles,
before ranks,
before flame.
"I'll cast it again tomorrow," she said.
Kaelen nodded once.
"Good."