The silence that settled in the room wasn't empty. It was the kind of stillness that seemed to observe back, as if the walls themselves were attentive to what wasn't being said. Kael remained lying down for a few moments, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, while Inari's presence beside him filled not only the physical space, but also something deeper, something that existed between thought and instinct.
Inari turned her face slightly towards him, resting her head on her bent arm, observing him with a calm, almost lazy interest. There was something curious in her gaze, but also something sharper, more attentive. She wasn't someone who asked questions just for the sake of it. When she asked, it was because she already knew the answer mattered.
"So..." she said, her voice soft but laden with intention. "What do you want, Kael?"
The question wasn't simple.
And he knew it.
