Kael smiled slightly, satisfied with the implicit confession. He leaned back on the magical pillows with a sigh, watching the comings and goings of passersby beyond the field of silence. For a few moments, the two sat there just listening to the distant melody of the bards, the muffled conversation from the tents, and the rustling of colorful flags on the balconies.
"Did the anchovy stop singing?" he asked, leaning over to peek into the tent.
"It's on the chorus again," Elion replied, amused. "A romantic ballad now, if I'm not mistaken."
"It's strange..." said Kael, absentmindedly fiddling with a pillow. "I should be angry with you. Or at Grandma. Or at this whole absurd plan. But I'm too tired to care."
"That's because the body can age in the blink of an eye, but the heart needs more time," Elion said softly. "You're still trying to understand what you've lost. And maybe... what you've gained."
Kael nodded slowly.
