บท 59: You Like It?

"Would things have turned out to be different if I hadn't chosen to join the academy?" 

He looked at her pretending to be nonchalant.

Taking her hand in his, he spoke gently, "Not necessarily. They would have still found the clues of your unique composition sooner or later. Worse yet you won't even be skilled enough to protect yourself had you not joined the academy."

After a slight pause, Lanying turned towards him, "So regardless of whatever choice I made, I would still have to go through all this. How pathetic." 

Her self deprecating smile seemed to pierce through his heart. 

At times, words were merely not enough to comfort one. He placed his hand on the small of her back, fixing the bed pillow with another hand he gestured at her to lie down. 

As she did, with a flicker of his hand, he dimmed the lights down. She closed her eyes as he gently covered her eyes with his palm.