The sun was lazily hanging above the clouds when Halo and Aeliana were seated in the library, chatting.

Unlike her usual self, this time she seemed often lost in her own world, as though something heavy weighed on her. It was apparent, but Halo ignored it anyway.

His return had been accepted with open arms, and over the past three days, they'd been chatting as though they were best friends.

Both maintained certain boundaries, lines that wouldn't be crossed. Still, their growing connection clearly meant something to Aeliana, and she demonstrated that whenever possible.

This was the outcome Halo had engineered. Yet now, watching her distant behavior and her scattered responses since he'd arrived, the signs were unmistakable: their fragile connection was approaching its end.

He wouldn't push.

Instead, he pretended everything was normal, giving her space. Eventually, she'd talk when she was ready.

It didn't take long.

She turned to him, trying and failing to maintain eye contact, her gaze repeatedly escaping to the ground.

"Uhm… Halo."

Halo turned to her, acting confused.

"Yes? What's it?"

She looked as though a glance at Halo would tear her soul apart.

"This is impromptu, but… would it be okay if you spent the night with me tomorrow? I'd like us to read together."

Halo's expression darkened.

He'd braced for accusation, confrontation, maybe even violence. But this? He'd never seen it coming, and judging by the plan, neither had Iris. The problem was, he couldn't refuse, but accepting immediately would be just as dangerous.

"I wasn't expecting that."

Her actions grew strange.

"I know, but can you please agree to it?"

Halo weighed his thoughts for a moment.

"I will think about it and give you the answer tomorrow."

She was pleased and yet struggled to act comfortably.

"I've been thinking… your parents must have thought you were an actual angel to name you Halo."

The question stirred something nostalgic in him. He'd deflected it countless times before. As a child, he'd been too young to investigate his name's origins, and now he had no real answers beyond the fact that both parents had peculiar names. Tenebris and Halo, deeply contradictory.

He had no direct answer to give now, either, after all, it hardly mattered now.

Aeliana's questions intensified, becoming more insistent and scattered. She jumped between topics and asked things that didn't quite connect. It felt like she was frantically trying to know everything about him before morning came.

Halo maintained his composure, and every question reinforced his theory about her true motive for inviting him. She planned to make a move tonight, either personally or through someone else.

Which meant he absolutely couldn't back out now. This could lead them straight to whoever controlled her.

She locked eyes with Halo, her expression turning dreamy.

"Can we have a drink sometime?"

"Ah… okay."

Halo's confusion was evident.

A drink? Sometime?

He couldn't tell if she was playing mind games, but from how she spoke, it was clear she genuinely looked forward to this. That contradicted his earlier theory. Still, he couldn't simply abandon that suspicion.

Was he thinking too much about this?

This wasn't something he needed to decide now. Whether she intended to kill him that night or simply deepen their bond, he had to stay on guard either way.

Before nightfall, Halo left everything else behind. It felt like a reprieve he'd earned, the chance to finally share what he'd learned with someone. Burdens always weighed less when divided.

***

The night stretched ahead. Halo and Iris occupied the living room after he'd choked down bread and milk that tasted like nothing.

The inability to enjoy anyone's cooking but Seraph's was a constant torment, making him miss her meals every fleeting second.

No matter how he chewed, the bread stayed stubbornly dry, and the milk burned like acid going down.

Still, he managed to bring his conversation with Aeliana before Iris.

"I think you are right, Halo. You just need to be careful."

She considered their options.

"Maybe killing you isn't in her plans right now, or maybe the decision was never hers. She did ask to take you on a date. So she might be just as clueless as we are. Whatever her orders are, we'll know tomorrow."

Halo exhaled.

"I'm not as powerful as you think. Since training under the Fade of Bridle, I haven't fought any truly formidable opponents. My clones can only do so much if I'm up against someone stronger."

Halo caught wind of how much Iris's eyes were sparkling.

"Did you say Fade of Bridle? Fade of Bridle is your master?"

Her obvious eagerness made him uncomfortable. He hadn't seen this expression before. The thought of Fade alone appeared to make her mouth water.

"I'm not sure 'master' is accurate, since he doesn't see himself as a teacher. Still, he did once call me his second student, so I guess you could call him that."

"You say you're not strong… I now understand the calm, dangerous aura you carry."

Halo frowned.

"What do you mean? What do you know about Fade of Bridle anyway?"

Her excitement calmed for a moment.

"I haven't met him, but my favorite academy staff member was a devoted fan. The Fade of Bridle once took control of a land in the Ashen Ages entirely on his own. That land was crawling with Assassins and top-tier Knights. Yet, as the rumor goes, he accomplished it all before a feather even touched the ground."

She smiled.

"Such a feat isn't about strength alone. Being an Assassin already makes one the stealthiest of all ranks, yet he pulled it off… and generously gave the land to lonely souls who needed a refuge."

Halo's face became impassive.

Fade's strength was legendary—supposedly equal to a Forgotten Sinner—but evidently Halo had still underestimated him. The man appeared oblivious to his own power. Perhaps immortality had skewed his perspective over time.

But that only strengthened Halo's theory. If Fade was truly that powerful, then he must have let Kysa kill him intentionally, the strongest Knight in history, and Fade had simply… surrendered out of boredom. It had to be true.

"Can you tell me more about him? What does he look like?"

Halo sighed.

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