章節 23: someone I trust
Cior woke up later that day, disoriented and still processing the overwhelming events. She blinked as her eyes adjusted to the dim light of the cave, then froze when she noticed that her clothes had been changed. She turned her gaze quickly to Amaias, who was sitting nearby, his expression unreadable. Panic surged in her chest.
"Why—?" Cior started, but her voice caught. She couldn't bring herself to ask.
Amaias sighed, his voice calm but laced with understanding. "You don't need to explain anything. So... will you erase my memory too?" His eyes were steady on hers, no judgment, just the same quiet patience he always had.
Cior's eyes widened in surprise. "How do you know?"
Amaias gave a small shrug, leaning back against the rock wall. "It wasn't that hard. Just like you did with Mateo, I pieced it together. The memory loss, the inconsistencies, the way you act around certain people... it all pointed to it."
Cior stayed silent for a moment, her guilt and relief mixing in her chest. She hadn't meant to keep this secret for so long, but the weight of her past had made her do things she never thought she'd need to.
"Sorry," Cior said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to... It was necessary."
Amaias didn't seem angry, just thoughtful. "I get it. You have your reasons. I don't blame you for doing what you had to do."
Cior exhaled a shaky breath. The thought of erasing another memory made her stomach turn. "I can't erase your memories," she said softly. "You're an angel. It only works on humans and shapeshifters."
Amaias studied her for a moment, then gave her a small, understanding smile. "I figured. But I want you to know, Cior, you don't have to hide from me. Whatever it is that you're running from, I'm here."
Cior's heart felt heavier, but at the same time, lighter than it had in a long while. She didn't expect him to understand, but he did.
"Thank you, Amaias," she said, her voice steady now. "It means more than you know."
Cior took a deep breath, her heart heavy as she prepared to share the truth with Amaias. The weight of her past was something she rarely spoke of, but she knew now that it was time. With him, she didn't feel the same need to hide.
"So, are you willing to know the truth?" Cior asked, her voice soft but steady.
Amaias looked at her, his expression unreadable but supportive. "If you want to share it with me, I'm ready to listen."
Cior nodded, her eyes distant as memories of her painful past resurfaced. She began speaking, her voice steady but tinged with emotion.
"My parents... they were killed when I was still young. It was... brutal. I don't even know who did it. But after that, I was taken. Kidnapped. And then... experimented on. They did horrible things to me. For years, I was trapped in a facility, subjected to tests, tortured—" Cior's voice wavered, but she pushed forward, unwilling to stop now. "But then I met Kieran. He was different. He found me there, and he trained me, helped me grow stronger. He taught me how to fight, how to survive."
Amaias didn't interrupt, his gaze focused on her, listening intently. Cior could see the concern in his eyes, but also a growing understanding.
"When I was strong enough, Kieran started planning our revenge," she continued. "We both wanted to make those responsible pay for what they did to us. But it wasn't just the people who held me captive. One of the parents of the students here at the academy... they were involved. They were responsible for a lot of the pain I went through. And so, I came here... to this academy. To make sure I could keep an eye on them."
Amaias's brow furrowed slightly. "You came here to take down someone's parent?"
Cior nodded, her expression serious. "Yes. And also because Kieran was rumored to not be able to have a daughter. So, I was sent here to pose as his child. To protect my identity, I had to pretend to be someone I wasn't. I've been hiding for so long, pretending I'm someone I'm not."
Amaias stayed silent for a moment, absorbing her words. The depth of the pain she had experienced was staggering, and yet here she was, standing in front of him, still fighting, still surviving.
"You didn't have to tell me all of this," Amaias said quietly. "But thank you for trusting me. I can't even begin to imagine what you've been through. But whatever happens, you don't have to face it alone anymore."
Cior felt a wave of relief wash over her at his words. It wasn't easy to let someone into her world, but for the first time, she felt like maybe—just maybe—it wouldn't be so bad to have someone beside her.
Cior looked at Amaias, her eyes softened by the vulnerability she had shared. "I trust you," she said, her voice steady but filled with sincerity.
Amaias gave her a reassuring smile, his earlier tension replaced by genuine concern. "You can always trust me," he replied, his tone warm and sincere.
For a moment, they just stood there, the air between them comfortable and peaceful, a quiet understanding settling in. The weight of the past was still there, but for the first time in a long while, Cior didn't feel as though she was carrying it alone. The sweet moment lingered as they shared that unspoken bond, the kind that doesn't need words to be understood.
As they stood side by side, the world outside the cave felt a little less daunting. Cior wasn't sure what the future held, but she was beginning to believe that with Amaias by her side, she might just be able to face it, one step at a time.
Cior raised an eyebrow dramatically, her voice almost theatrical. "And, ah, my real name is Lunette. And I'm actually a mix of all species with more than 15 powers."
Amaias blinked, his eyes wide. "What? You really are something else."
Cior smirked, looking pleased with her dramatic reveal. "And before you say anything, yeah, I am my own fiancée. The girl I showed you as my fiancée? That was me."
Amaias leaned back, crossing his arms with a smirk of his own. "I figured that out already."
Cior paused, her dramatic flair momentarily faltering. "Wait, you did?"
Amaias gave her an amused look. "Come on, Cior, you're not that subtle. Besides, I can tell when you're putting on an act."
Cior groaned, flopping back against the cave wall in mock defeat. "So much for my big reveal. You really are too sharp."
"Guess I'll have to up my game then," Amaias teased, his tone light and playful.
"Yeah, yeah," Cior said, rolling her eyes. "I'll find something even more dramatic for next time. You just wait."
Amaias laughed, the moment between them light and easy, as the weight of everything else seemed to fade into the background for a while.
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