Chapitre 27: Chapter 25:
I woke up to the soft light of dawn streaming through my window, painting the walls of my room in golden hues. My head was a mess of thoughts, and the events of last night replayed on a loop in my mind.
I sat up slowly, only to realize I wasn't alone. Alohi was sprawled across my bed, her arm flung dramatically over her face and a faint snore escaping her lips. Her heels dangled off the edge of the bed, and her dress was crumpled, evidence of her wild night.
I sighed. "Of course, Alohi."
She didn't stir as I climbed out of bed and padded over to the basin. Splashing cold water on my face, I hoped it would do the impossible—erase the memory of what I had done yesterday.
The kiss.
The image of Xenos's stunned expression flashed through my mind, and I groaned, gripping the edges of the basin. What had I been thinking? Sure, I wanted to test if the cure worked, but… like that?
"I'm losing my mind," I muttered.
As if summoned by my frustration, Aurora fluttered in through the window, her small wings catching the morning light. She perched on the edge of the basin, tilting her head at me.
"You look like someone who's just committed a crime," she teased, her voice lilting with amusement.
I dried my face with a towel and glared at her. "Not helping, Aurora."
She giggled and floated up to eye level. "What's wrong? Did you poison Xenos by accident or something?"
"No," I said sharply, then softened. "It's… complicated."
Aurora landed on my shoulder, her weight light but comforting. "Let me guess. It's about the kiss?"
I froze, my eyes widening. "How—"
"Oh, please," she interrupted. "I saw the whole thing. You humans are so dramatic. It's honestly entertaining."
"Great," I muttered. "Even my companion is making fun of me."
Aurora patted my cheek with her tiny hand. "Relax. It's not the end of the world. Besides, wasn't that the whole point of curing him? So you two could—"
"Don't," I warned, cutting her off before she could finish.
She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Fine, fine. But you should really talk to him. Avoiding it will only make it worse."
I sighed, knowing she was right, but the idea of facing Xenos after everything felt impossible. Still, I couldn't avoid him forever, especially not in the same tavern.
I slipped into my favorite dress—a dark gray one with lace that complemented my eyes—and carefully braided my hair, tucking a few loose strands behind my ears. For some reason, I found myself paying extra attention to every detail, from the shimmer of my lip balm to the way my boots were polished. It wasn't like I was dressing for anyone in particular… right?
As I adjusted my bracelet, a loud groan interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see Alohi finally stirring, her hand clutching her head as if it might fall off.
"Ugh, what happened to me?" she mumbled, her voice hoarse.
I rushed to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You got drunk on fairy wine, remember? Here, let me help."
Before she could protest, I placed my palm gently against her temple and channeled a wave of healing magic. A faint golden glow enveloped her, and within moments, the tension in her face eased.
"Better?" I asked, pulling back.
She blinked, testing her head with a tentative shake. "Much better. You're a lifesaver, Sage."
I smiled. "You're welcome. But… what exactly happened with Cynfael last night?"
Alohi's face turned crimson as she groaned again, though this time it wasn't from the headache. "Oh, gods, don't remind me. I hugged him, kissed his cheek, and then—"
She paused, flopping back onto the bed with a dramatic sigh.
"And then?" I prompted, crossing my arms.
"And then I passed out, okay? That's all I remember. He probably thinks I'm some ridiculous drunk."
I chuckled softly, sitting beside her. "I don't think he minds. Cynfael doesn't strike me as the judgmental type."
Alohi shot me a skeptical look. "Yeah, well, I'm mortified either way. I can't believe I embarrassed myself in front of him of all people."
I patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry about it. Cynfael seems to like you just the way you are. Besides, it's not like you stole the show last night…"
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing!" I said quickly, standing up and heading for the door. "We've got a busy day ahead, so get ready!"
As I left the room, I could still hear Alohi muttering to herself, something about how she was never drinking fairy wine again.
As soon as I closed the door behind me, I turned, only to walk straight into what felt like a wall of solid muscle. A familiar scent—smoke and pine—hit me before I even looked up.
"Careful, little flower," Xenos said, his voice low and calm, though I swore there was a hint of amusement in it.
I took a step back quickly, my face heating up as I looked at him. "I… uh… sorry, I didn't see you there."
He tilted his head, studying me with those piercing eyes of his. "It's not like me to be so easily overlooked."
I frowned at his teasing tone, unsure if he was trying to make me laugh or feel more embarrassed. "Well, maybe don't stand so close to the door next time," I shot back, though it came out weaker than I intended.
"Noted," he said, smirking slightly as he crossed his arms. "You're up early."
I straightened, trying to regain some composure. "I have class. Remember?"
He nodded, his gaze briefly dropping to my dress before quickly shifting back to my face. "You're… dressed differently than usual."
I blinked, glancing down at myself. "Is that a bad thing?"
"No," he said quickly, almost too quickly. Then, as if realizing how awkward that sounded, he cleared his throat and added, "It's just… different."
The silence that followed felt heavy, neither of us knowing what to say next.
Finally, I decided to break it. "Well, I should go—"
"Sage," he interrupted, his voice softer this time.
I stopped, looking up at him. His expression had shifted, the teasing edge replaced by something more serious. "About last night—"
"Let's just forget about it," I said quickly, cutting him off.
His brows furrowed. "Forget about it?"
"Yes," I said, feeling my cheeks burn again. "It's not a big deal. Things happen, and it's fine. Really."
He stared at me for a moment, his eyes searching mine as if he didn't quite believe me. Then, with a slight nod, he stepped aside. "If that's what you want."
"It is," I said, though the tightness in my chest said otherwise.
I walked past him, feeling his gaze linger on me for just a moment before I hurried down the stairs. If this was how the day was starting, I wasn't sure how I was going to survive the rest of it.
In the kitchen, I tried to focus on the task at hand—breakfast. I reached for a knife and started slicing through a batch of fresh fruits. My thoughts kept drifting, though, replaying fragments of last night and the awkward exchange with Xenos just minutes ago.
The next thing I knew, a sharp sting shot through my finger. "Ow!" I yelped, dropping the knife as blood welled up from the cut.
Before I could even grab a towel, Xenos appeared at my side, his movements swift and precise. "What happened?" he demanded, his voice low and serious.
I blinked at him, startled. "I just… cut myself. It's nothing."
He grabbed my hand gently, inspecting the wound. "I sensed you were in danger," he said, his brows knitting together.
I froze. "You… sensed it?"
He nodded, his expression tense. "It was faint, but it was there. That's never happened before."
The words hung between us, thick with unspoken questions. Why would he sense something so small?
I pulled my hand away, wrapping a towel around the cut to stop the bleeding. "That's… weird," I admitted. "I'll ask Smokey about it next time I see him."
"You should," he said, his eyes lingering on me for a moment longer before he stepped back. "In the meantime, be more careful. You're distracted."
I let out a shaky breath. "Yeah, well, I've had a lot on my mind lately."
He didn't respond, but his gaze softened slightly before he turned and walked out of the kitchen.
As I bandaged my finger, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling settling over me. What did it mean for Xenos to sense me like that? And what would Smokey have to say about it? Whatever it was, it felt like yet another layer of this strange, tangled connection between us.
Once my finger was properly bandaged, I finished preparing breakfast—toast, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, and a small pot of tea. I tried to push the earlier moment with Xenos out of my mind, but it lingered, hovering like a persistent shadow.
I carried the plates to the dining table, setting everything up with care. Alohi stumbled in just as I finished, looking more awake than before but still clutching her head. She slumped into a chair with a groan.
"Breakfast is ready," I announced, forcing a cheerful tone.
Alohi mumbled her thanks while reaching for the tea. Xenos walked in a moment later, his expression unreadable as usual. He sat across from me without a word, though I noticed the slight pause as he glanced at my bandaged finger.
I busied myself with serving, avoiding his gaze. "Eat up," I said, sliding a plate toward him. "It's better fresh."
"Looks good," Alohi murmured, perking up slightly as she dug in.
Xenos gave a faint nod, his usual stoicism intact. "Thanks," he said simply before taking a bite.
The table was mostly quiet, save for Alohi's occasional groans about her headache and the clink of silverware. But despite the calm, I couldn't help but feel like something unspoken lingered in the air—between all of us, and especially between Xenos and me.
As I took a bite of toast, I decided that for now, I'd let it rest. There was still so much to figure out, but at least we had this moment of peace. For however long it lasted.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone