Alister and Miyu stood beneath the flickering orange glow of the corridor's overhead runes. The stone walls were silent—the kind of silence that crept in after the clang of steel and the echo of footsteps faded.
Alister's golden eyes didn't waver as he spoke, voice calm—too calm.
"You're not leaving the city, Miyu. Not while things are this unstable. You'll stay here. It's safer."
Miyu blinked. Once. Then again—slower this time—as the words fully registered.
"…What?"
He didn't repeat himself.
She folded her arms, the tension in her shoulders rising. "Is this some kind of joke? Because if it is, it's not funny. At all."
He said nothing.
Her golden slit eyes narrowed. "Alister, you do realize we're the same age, right? Twins?" She took a step closer, jabbing a finger at his chest.
"I'm not your kid sister. You don't get to decide where I go like I'm some helpless civilian."
