To Those Who Remember

I slowly open my eyes and saw two familiar figures – Lylia, sitting at the edge of the bed, and Exian, standing nearby. Lylia is the first to notice. "Iris!" she exclaims. "You're awake! I was so worried"

Exian's eyes flick to mine. "You should rest. You've been through a lot"

I shift slightly, my body aching as I did. "What happened?"

"The divine priest brought you back here. Honestly, Iris, what kind of reckless stunt were you trying to pull?" Lylia sighed.

Before I can answer, Exian steps forward. "You don't need to push yourself anymore" he says, his tone firm but almost… regretful. "Whatever happened out there, it's over. Focus on recovering"

****

"Exian" the priest began, "why haven't you joined the prayer meeting or the Seleste hour?"

"I'm busy." He replied bluntly.

The priest seemed unsure but nodded and left. Exian stood in the corridor for a moment longer before walking toward his chamber.

Once inside, the door clicked shut behind him. Without warning, Exian's hand lashed out, grabbing a nearby object and throwing it across the room. He stood frozen for a moment, clearly taken aback by his sudden snap. Then, he fell to the floor, his hands trembling as they pressed against his face.

"I'm sorry." He muttered, his voice barely audible.

A quiet sob escaped him, and he quickly wiped it away, his eyes filled with frustration. "He won't leave me alone" his voice breaking. "I want to leave. I don't want this anymore…"

"I'm sorry…"

"I'M SORRY."

----

I quietly tiptoe into the kitchen, the moonlight filtering through the high windows as I grab a loaf of bread from the counter.

"God forgive me again for stealing" I muttered, already taking a bite as I head for the door.

As I step out, I froze. Standing just outside is Exian, his arms crossed, eyes locked onto mine.

…

"…"

The silence is insufferable as I look at his unreadable expression, and the bread still hanging from my mouth. 

I slowly bite down, breaking the loaf as I awkwardly mumble, "Uh…Good evening?"

Exian raises an eyebrow. "Should I ask… or should I just pretend I didn't see this?"

"I was hungry… nothing else" I replied.

He lets out a faint sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Sure. No wonder the bread ratio keeps lacking"

I swallow hastily, "This is only the second time I stole! Plus, it's no theft if no one notices, right?"

"You do realize you just confessed to your crime, don't you?"

I clutched the bread. "…Tsukiyomi forgives all, doesn't he?"

Exian stares at me for a moment longer before the corner of his mouth twitches. He gestures towards the hallway. "You're lucky I'm the one assigned to check around the temple. Come on. Let's not make this the reason the kitchen gets locked at night."

As we walked down the hallway, the quiet sound of our footsteps echoed against the walls. I glanced at Exian, noting how effortlessly composed he seemed. It was as if he had the power to make any space feel serene, simply by being in it.

Exian noticed my gaze and glanced over at me. "Are you fine now?"

I hesitated for a moment. "I'm fine. Just thinking"

He nodded, his expression unreadable but I could tell he wasn't convinced. "Thinking is important. Though I hope your thoughts bring clarity."

I offered him a small smile. "They will"

It was then I glanced up at him again, and I found myself admiring his vibe and couldn't help but speak my mind. "You're beautiful"

Exian's eyes lingered on me for a moment, as if he sees straight through me. "Admiring your creation?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

"Yea, like that- "

I blinked, caught off guard by his remark. "Wait what!?"