The cabin fell into a quiet stillness once more, the faint sound of water flowing through the glass conduits along the walls providing a soft, almost rhythmic backdrop as Damon remained seated, his gaze fixed on Elowen, his eyes narrowing slightly as her question lingered in the air.

"Why do you want to know?" he asked.

Elowen did not answer immediately.

She simply looked at him, that same calm, unreadable smile resting on her face.

"Is she important to you?" she asked instead.

Damon’s expression tightened.

For a fraction of a second, something flickered in his eyes—Then it hardened.

"No," he said.

Elowen’s smile did not falter.

"Then what is the problem in saying her name?" she asked gently.

Damon did not respond.

His fists clenched subtly at his sides as his thoughts turned inward, sharper than before.

Yeah... what is the problem...?

Why am I... not willing to say it out loud...?

The question lingered unanswered.

Elowen watched him for a moment longer before she exhaled softly and spoke.

"This is enough for today."

Damon blinked once, the shift catching him off guard.

"That’s it?" he asked, a faint edge of confusion in his voice, "what about the emotion control training?"

Elowen leaned back slightly, her tone light.

"Do not worry about it," she said, "we will take a longer session... or perhaps two next week."

A faint pause.

"You may leave now."

Damon remained seated for a second longer, clearly puzzled, before he slowly stood up, his movements measured as he turned toward the door, walking toward it without speaking.

His hand reached the handle.

Then paused ,he turned once more, his gaze falling back on Elowen, as if expecting something more—

But she only smiled.

He said nothing and left.

The door closed quietly behind him.

Elowen’s eyes followed his retreating figure until it disappeared completely, the faint click of the door sealing the silence that followed, as she let out a slow breath, her smile softening into something more thoughtful.

"Deep trust issues..." she murmured quietly.

Her gaze lowered slightly as her thoughts began to arrange themselves.

"Calls his father by title... strained familial ties... avoids emotional acknowledgement even when directly confronted..."

She leaned back further, one hand resting lightly against her cheek.

"Pretended not to recognize the girl arranged for him... unwilling to form bonds... or perhaps unwilling to risk them..."

Her eyes narrowed slightly in thought.

"And most importantly... too much restraint."

A faint pause.

"The moment he started speaking... he did not stop."

Her fingers tapped lightly against the table.

"A clear lack of everyday communication... which implies a lack of close relationships... which again circles back to trust."

Her gaze shifted slightly toward the door.

"There is only one constant in his daily life... that maid."

A brief silence.

"And yet... reluctance to even say her name."

Her expression turned more contemplative.

"Possessiveness... perhaps not fully conscious..."

A faint exhale escaped her lips.

"He might not even be aware of it himself... but it seems she is the only person he has even slightly opened up to..."

Her eyes softened slightly.

"...and subconsciously, he wishes to keep that space to himself."

Another pause.

"Not wanting to share... not wanting interference..."

She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, her gaze settling into quiet clarity.

"...Perhaps I approached this the wrong way."

Her voice dropped, softer now.

"Controlling one’s emotions is not only about stopping them from overflowing..."

She looked towards the door...

"...but also about learning how to let them flow... little by little."

***

Damon moved swiftly through the academy corridors, his steps sharp and unmeasured as his thoughts raced ahead of him, each one colliding with the next in a way that left no room for calm, his mind replaying the conversation again and again with increasing clarity.

I revealed too much...

His jaw tightened slightly.

And I didn’t even realize it at the time...

But that was not what bothered him the most.

His gaze sharpened.

Why didn’t I say her name...?

That single question lingered heavier than the rest.

I never intended to form any kind of connection with her... I kept it neutral... distant... controlled...

His steps did not slow.

And yet... when it came to something as simple as saying her name... I couldn’t.

A student crossed his path suddenly, and Damon, lost in thought, collided into him without even noticing, his shoulder striking hard enough to knock the other off balance as he stumbled and fell, while Damon continued walking without turning back even once.

His thoughts did not pause.

...Why?

A faint tension settled deeper within him.

Is it because... she was the first...

The thought surfaced.

Clear. Unavoidable.

The first person I had physical intimacy with... the first time...

His eyes narrowed.

Even if I didn’t intend it... that kind of moment leaves an imprint.

His mind began breaking it down almost instinctively, analyzing himself the same way he would analyze a situation.

The brain links it... pleasure... vulnerability... novelty... all at once...

His fingers flexed slightly.

Even if the relationship was purely physical... the mind doesn’t separate it cleanly... especially not the first time.

His steps remained steady, but his thoughts grew sharper.

And biologically... it’s not just psychological.

A faint scoff escaped him internally.

The body releases chemicals... oxytocin... dopamine... creating a false sense of closeness... attachment... reward...

His eyes darkened slightly.

It tricks the mind into thinking something is deeper than it actually is.

A brief pause.

...And that leads to something even worse.

His expression hardened.

That’s what I must be feeling...

The word settled with quiet weight.

Not real... not intentional... but present.

He exhaled faintly.

Right! It should be just that...

His pace slowed just a fraction. His gaze steadied.

Just ego... attachment... and the significance of a first experience.

His thoughts sharpened further, dissecting it cleanly.

The mind concludes... this was important to me... so it must be important in general.

A faint, almost humorless breath escaped him.

And since it’s the only reference point... there’s nothing to compare it to...

His eyes lowered slightly.

So the mind exaggerates it.

A quiet conclusion formed.

Like watching the first movie of your life... and believing it’s the greatest thing ever made.

His steps resumed their earlier pace, his thoughts settling—not into peace, but into understanding.

This must be why I was feeling tension around her all this time...So that’s all this is.

A pause lingered.

But something within him did not fully agree.

And that—

Was what bothered him the most.

Damon slowed his steps just enough to pull his hand upward, his fingers moving swiftly across manacron’s interface as a faint glow reflected in his eyes, his thoughts now far more structured than before, as if he had already arrived at a conclusion.

A soft ding sounded.

Sent.

A faint breath left him.

This should solve it...

Without lingering on it further, he continued walking.

***

The scene shifted.

To a quiet dormitory room, far removed from the bustle of the academy, where silence hung heavier, undisturbed by casual chatter or movement, the curtains drawn partially as muted light filtered through, casting long shadows across the interior.

Seated at the center of the room was a young man with neatly kept green hair, his posture relaxed yet composed as he leaned slightly back in his chair, his fingers resting lightly against the armrest, while two other students stood in front of him, their bodies stiff, their expressions carrying a mix of hesitation and anticipation.

A faint smile rested on the green-haired young man’s face.

"Will you do it?" he asked.

One of the two hesitated before raising his head slightly, his voice uncertain.

"A-Are you sure this will work, Young Lord Celdric?"

Celdric’s smile did not waver.

"Of course it will," he replied smoothly.

The second young man shifted nervously before speaking.

"A-and the thing you promised...?"

Celdric did not hesitate for even a moment.

"You will get it the moment his expulsion happens," he said, his tone calm, assured.

The first young man swallowed slightly.

"W-when should we do it?"

Celdric’s eyes sharpened just a fraction.

"I will inform you at the appropriate time," he said, "just make sure you are ready."

Both of them nodded quickly.

"Yes, Young Lord."

"You may leave now," Celdric added.

They turned immediately, almost too quickly, and exited the room without another word, the door closing softly behind them.

For a moment—

Silence.

The smile on Celdric’s face slowly faded.

Replaced by something far colder.

His expression hardened, the ease gone entirely as his fingers tightened around the glass he held.

"So what if you have a rare resonance..." he muttered under his breath, his voice low and edged.

"So what if you placed first in the placement exams..."

A sharp crack sounded.

The glass in his hand fractured under the pressure.

"Nobody..." he said, his tone dropping further, "...comes between me and my position as heir."

The cracks deepened.

Then—

The glass shattered completely within his grip.

"Nobody."

***

The academy had begun to quiet under the early evening light, the golden hues of the setting sun stretching across the stone pathways and long corridors as the bustle of the day slowly gave way to a calmer, more subdued atmosphere, with only a few students lingering in distant corners or passing by in quiet conversation.

Damon walked with his pace steady and uninterrupted.

Until he reached a more secluded corner of the academy grounds, where the noise of the surroundings faded into a soft silence, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves and the distant hum of activity.

There—

A figure stood.

A young woman with dark skin, her short gray, fur-like hair catching the light in soft contrast, while two curved horns rose from her head, partially concealing a pair of ears beneath them, her presence grounded yet alert as she turned at the sound of approaching footsteps.

Damon stopped a few steps away.

"Zarhka."

She looked up at him, her eyes meeting his, a faint flicker of curiosity crossing her expression as she opened her mouth to speak—

But before she could say anything—

Damon stepped forward.

And grabbed her hand.

"Let’s go."