Chapter 19

Adrelo sighed in relief as he finally escaped the crowded chaos of the event hall. Students had swarmed Leovan's booth in an almost frenzied manner, lining up just to admire his invention, fawn over him, or-even worse-ask for an autograph. The noise and the sheer density of people were too much for Adrelo, and the constant background noise of Milo's whining about Leovan's genius didn't help.

Deciding he'd had enough, Adrelo ducked out of the room without so much as a backward glance.

"Finally," he muttered, stepping outside into the open air. The cool breeze did wonders to calm his nerves. His stomach grumbled loudly, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since breakfast.

Rubbing his abdomen, Adrelo sighed.

"Food. I need food. Maybe something fried."

He wandered around the campus until he found a lively food stall set up for the festival. The smell of sizzling meat and freshly baked bread wafted through the air, making his stomach growl even louder. A line of students waited at the stall, chatting and laughing as two diligent student workers managed the orders.

Adrelo stepped into line, scanned the menu board, and smirked as he found his favorite food. When it was finally his turn, he confidently gave his order.

"Two plates of the rosemary chicken skewers with garlic rice and a slice of honey cake."

But just as the words left his mouth, a soft and melodic voice spoke the exact same order right beside him.

"Two plates of the rosemary chicken skewers with garlic rice and a slice of honey cake."

Adrelo froze. His head snapped to the side, and his eyes widened in disbelief. Standing next to him was Elias Caspian Fernhart.

The boy had an almost ethereal glow about him. With his delicate features, and large, doe-like blue eyes framed by thick lashes, he looked like he had stepped out of a painting. He turned to Adrelo and smiled warmly, his soft pink lips curving upward in the most angelic way imaginable.

"Why, hello, Adrelo,"

Elias said, his voice gentle yet cheerful, like the sound of a bell.

Adrelo felt his heart skip a beat, then another. Oh no. No, no, no. Not him.

He gulped, his cheeks heating up as he struggled to find words.

"Uh, hi..." he mumbled, barely audible.

Elias tilted his head slightly, a curious yet amused look on his face.

"Fancy seeing you here. I didn't know you liked rosemary chicken skewers too!"

Adrelo blinked, feeling cornered by the sheer brightness of Elias's presence.

"Yeah, um, they're... good?" he said awkwardly, his voice rising slightly at the end like he wasn't sure of his own words.

Elias chuckled softly, the sound so melodic that it made Adrelo want to curl up into a ball. "They are good," he agreed.

"Oh, and the honey cake is wonderful too. It's one of my favorite desserts. What about you?"

Adrelo fumbled with his response, feeling like a deer caught in headlights.

"Uh, yeah. It's, uh... nice?"

Elias's eyes softened, and he gave Adrelo another dazzling smile.

"You're funny, Adrelo," he said, laughing lightly.

'No, I'm dying'

Adrelo thought, feeling his ears burn.

The student at the counter called out their shared order, and Elias reached forward to take the tray before Adrelo could react.

"Here, let me grab it for you too," he said kindly.

Adrelo panicked, waving his hands in protest.

"N-No, it's fine! I can carry my own!"

Elias tilted his head again, pouting slightly.

"But I don't mind. You seem tired. Are you okay?"

The concern in Elias's voice made Adrelo feel like the worst person alive. How is he this sweet? This isn't fair.

"N-No, I'm good!"

Adrelo stammered. He quickly took his tray and turned toward an empty table, hoping to escape this interaction before he completely melted.

But Elias wasn't done. He followed Adrelo, his soft footsteps trailing behind. Adrelo stiffened as he sat down, realizing Elias was sitting across from him.

"Mind if I join you?"

Elias asked, though he was already settling into the seat.

"Uh... sure," Adrelo muttered, focusing on his food to avoid meeting Elias's gaze.

Elias rested his chin on his hand, watching Adrelo with an innocent curiosity.

"You're always so quiet. It's nice, though. Peaceful."

Adrelo nearly choked on his chicken. Nice? Peaceful? I'm literally a wreck!

Elias leaned forward slightly, his eyes twinkling.

"You're blushing, Adrelo. Are you okay? Do you have a fever?"

Adrelo's face turned even redder. He waved his hand dismissively.

"I'm fine! It's just, um... hot out. Yeah. The weather. Very warm."

Elias giggled, and the sound was so pure that it made Adrelo's heart ache. "I see," he said, though the amused smile on his lips suggested he didn't believe Adrelo at all.

Adrelo, desperate to change the subject, gestured toward Elias's tray.

"You should eat before it gets cold."

Elias nodded, picking up a skewer.

"You're right. But I'm glad we ran into each other. It's nice having company during meals."

Adrelo felt his chest tighten. He had no idea how to respond to that, so he just nodded stiffly and kept his eyes glued to his plate.

'This guy is going to kill me with his kindness'

Adrelo thought miserably. And I haven't even finished my meal.

****

Adrelo was doing his best to focus on his food, but Elias's presence across the table was an inescapable force of nature.

The soft warmth radiating from Elias, his gentle voice as he hummed a tune while eating, and the delicate way he carried himself-it all made Adrelo feel as if he had been thrown into a dreamlike haze. He kept his head down, praying that Elias would be content with their silence.

But, of course, Elias wasn't.

"So, Adrelo,"

Elias began, his voice light and musical. "What do you like to do in your free time? I don't think I've seen you around the activity booths much."

Adrelo froze mid-bite, chewing slower to buy himself time. He eventually swallowed and mumbled,

"I... just like reading."

Elias's face brightened.

"Reading? That's wonderful! What kind of books do you enjoy?"

Adrelo shifted uncomfortably.

"I guess... history? Magic theory? Stuff like that."

Elias clapped his hands together softly, his excitement palpable.

"Really? That's so impressive! Magic theory is so complex. You must have such a sharp mind to enjoy something like that."

Adrelo blinked, unsure how to respond. "Uh... thanks?"

Elias leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his hand as he studied Adrelo. "You're modest too. That's a good trait. People like that tend to surprise everyone when they show what they're truly capable of."

Adrelo's ears turned pink. What is with this guy? He's too... too much!

Elias continued, undeterred by Adrelo's awkward silence. "You know, I always thought you had a mysterious charm about you. Like someone with a story to tell."

Adrelo nearly choked on his water. "I-I don't have a story to tell," he stammered.

Elias tilted his head slightly, his gaze soft and curious. "Are you sure? I think everyone has a story worth sharing. Maybe you just haven't realized it yet."

Adrelo ducked his head, suddenly feeling very small under Elias's earnest gaze. Why does he talk like that? Like he's trying to read my soul?

While Adrelo fumbled with his thoughts, a group of students nearby began to whisper among themselves, their eyes flickering toward the table.

"Hey, isn't that Elias Caspian Fernhart?"

one girl said, her voice filled with awe.

"He's so beautiful... and so kind too. What's he doing here?"

"He's with... Adrelo? Wait, Adrelo Dierre?"

another student chimed in, her tone incredulous.

"Isn't he supposed to be that troublemaker from the Dierre family?"

"No way! Look at him. He doesn't seem like a troublemaker at all. Actually... he's kind of pretty when he smiles, isn't he?"

"Now that you mention it, he does have a unique look. I never noticed before."

"I heard he aced the math exam the other day," a boy added.

"Perfect score. Even the professor was impressed."

"That's amazing! Maybe he's just misunderstood?"

Adrelo, oblivious to the murmurs, tried to keep up with Elias's chatter while his mind spiraled into confusion.

"Do you ever go to the music hall again?" Elias asked, his tone curious. "I haven't seen you in a while, it's one of my favorite places on campus. The sound of the instruments is so soothing. Don't you think so?"

Adrelo fidgeted with his fork. "I... don't really go there. Too many people."

Elias's expression softened.

"Ah, I understand. Crowds can be overwhelming. But sometimes, if you go during the quieter hours, it feels like the music is playing just for you. It's magical."

Adrelo glanced at him, his heart skipping a beat at the wistful tone in Elias's voice. How is he this pure? He doesn't seem real. No wonder the female lead fell for him.

Before Adrelo could stop himself, he blurted out, "You're different."

Elias blinked, surprised.

"Different? In what way?"

Adrelo's face turned red.

"I mean... you're not like the others. You're..." He trailed off, struggling to find the right words.

"You're... nice."

Elias laughed softly, a sound so gentle it made Adrelo's chest ache.

"Thank you, Adrelo. That's very kind of you to say."

The students nearby continued to whisper, their attention now fully focused on the pair.

"Wow, look at them. They look like they stepped out of a fairy tale," one girl said dreamily.

"Elias is like an angel, and Adrelo has that brooding, mysterious beauty. They actually complement each other," another added.

"Do you think they're friends? Or... more than friends?"

Adrelo's sharp ears caught snippets of the conversation, and his face burned hotter. Why are they looking at us? Stop looking at us!

Elias, seemingly unaware of the stares, smiled warmly at Adrelo.

"You should come with me to the music hall sometime. I think you'd like it."

Adrelo's brain short-circuited.

"I-I'll think about it," he mumbled, avoiding Elias's gaze.

Elias's expression brightened.

"That's good enough for me!"

Adrelo couldn't help but stare at him for a moment, feeling a strange warmth settle in his chest. What is wrong with me? Why does he make me feel like this?

As the whispers around them grew louder, Adrelo hunched over his food, wishing he could disappear. But deep down, he couldn't deny that Elias's presence-though overwhelming-made the world feel a little less suffocating.

****

Adrelo found himself trailing behind Elias as if guided by some unseen force. The soft echoes of their footsteps filled the silent hallway leading to the music room. He couldn't fathom how he ended up here, of all places, with Elias Caspian Fernhart-the radiant boy who seemed too pure for the chaos surrounding the academy.

We're not even supposed to be friends in the novel! Adrelo thought, his brows furrowing slightly as he followed the gentle figure in front of him.

Elias stopped at the doorway, pushing it open with ease, and motioned for Adrelo to come in. The room was quiet, filled with instruments arranged neatly along the walls. Warm sunlight streamed through the large windows, giving the space a serene glow. Adrelo stood awkwardly in the center of the room, unsure of what to do.

Elias noticed his hesitation and chuckled softly. "You're really tense, aren't you?" His voice carried a gentle playfulness. Bending down, Elias picked up a violin that had fallen to the floor, placing it back on its stand with care.

Adrelo blinked, startled. "I-I'm not tense," he stammered, his cheeks flushing as Elias's soft laughter reached his ears.

"You're adorable when you're nervous," Elias said, his blue eyes sparkling with mirth as he straightened and turned to face Adrelo fully. The statement made Adrelo freeze, heat rising to his face as he avoided Elias's gaze.

"I-I'm not nervous!" Adrelo blurted, his voice slightly higher than usual.

Elias tilted his head, still smiling. "If you say so," he teased gently before gesturing to a chair. "Why don't you sit? Maybe I can help you relax."

"How?" Adrelo asked warily, though he found himself sitting down anyway.

Elias smiled warmly as he retrieved a lute from the corner of the room. "I'll sing for you," he said simply. "Music has a way of soothing even the most restless hearts."

Before Adrelo could protest or even think, Elias began strumming the lute, his delicate fingers moving gracefully over the strings. His voice soon followed, soft and melodic, weaving through the air like a gentle breeze.

"𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒚,

𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒗𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒚,

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒚,

𝑪𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔, 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒆,

𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆.

𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓, 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒇𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚,

𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒈, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚.

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍,

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍,

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒊𝒓, 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚'𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆, 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓.

𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓, 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒇𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚,

𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒈, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚.

𝒀𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖,

𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖.

𝑺𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄, 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅,

𝑨 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒚 𝒘𝒆'𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅.

𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓, 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒇𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚,

𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒈, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚."

Adrelo felt an undescribable emotions suffocated him as he listened to Elias angelic voice.

****

Adrelo sat there, entranced. The notes seemed to wrap around him, carrying him to a place far away from the bustling academy. Elias's voice was ethereal, clear and filled with emotion, as though each word carried a secret promise of comfort and peace. Adrelo's gaze softened as he took in the boy before him.

Elias looked radiant, his delicate features illuminated by the soft sunlight streaming in. His lashes cast shadows on his cheeks as his eyes fluttered closed, fully immersed in the song. His blue eyes, when they did open, seemed to reflect the boundless sky, holding Adrelo's gaze captive without even trying. There was a gentle strength in the way he sang, as if he were pouring his soul into every note.

Adrelo felt his heart tighten. Something about the way Elias sang reminded him of a memory long buried-a memory of his mother. He closed his eyes, and in the melody, he heard echoes of her voice, soft and soothing, as she sang him to sleep in his past life.

He still vividly remembers how he will shrink in his mother's embrace as she sung him a lullaby to sleep.

"𝙃𝙪𝙨𝙝 𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩,

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣'𝙨 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙛𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙨𝙩.

𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚,

𝘼 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧, 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.

𝘾𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨, 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙣𝙚,

𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙪𝙣.

𝙉𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙢 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢, 𝙣𝙤 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙮,

𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮.

𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩, 𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩, 𝙨𝙤 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙚,

𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨, 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙚. 𝙃𝙪𝙨𝙝 𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙚,

𝙈𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚."

His mother... he missed her.

****

Adrelo's chest ached as the memory surfaced. He could almost feel his mother's warm hand brushing through his hair as she sang.

Her voice had been his anchor in a chaotic world, and for a fleeting moment, Elias's song carried the same warmth.

As the final note of Elias's song faded into the quiet air, Adrelo sat frozen in his chair, his hands trembling slightly on his lap.

His chest felt tight, as if the emotions welling up inside him were too vast to contain.

His vision blurred, and before he could stop himself, a single tear slipped down his cheek. Then another.