Time passed quietly after dinner.
Blackfire stayed a little longer at Clark's house, sitting on the wooden steps outside while the night sky slowly deepened into dark purple. The stars of Tamaran flickered faintly above them, and for a moment, everything felt… normal.
Eventually, she stood up.
"I should go," she said softly. "It's late."
Clark nodded, a little disappointed.
"Will I see you tomorrow?" he asked.
She hesitated, then gave a small nod.
"…Yes."
He smiled.
"I'll walk you part of the way."
They walked together until the lights of the castle could be seen in the distance. Blackfire stopped.
"Thank you," she said. "For everything. Your family is… kind."
Clark scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.
"They're just… like that."
She turned toward the castle gates, then paused.
"Clark?"
"Yeah?"
"…Good night."
"Good night, Blackfire."
She smiles and turns, entering the palace.
The castle halls were silent.
Too silent.
Blackfire walked past guards who barely glanced at her. No alarm. No urgency. No worried voices calling her name.
She reached the throne room.
"Dad, Mom" she said clearly. "I've returned."
Her parents were seated, deep in conversation, surrounded by holographic projections and reports.
Cyras glanced up briefly.
"Oh," she said flatly. "You're back."
Myth'r didn't even look at her.
"I'm sorry for the delay," Blackfire added. "I was gone longer than I intended."
Silence.
Then Cyras waved a hand dismissively.
"Next time, inform a guard," she said. "You may go."
Blackfire stood there for a moment.
Neither of them asked where she had been.
Or why.
"…Yes," she replied quietly.
She turned and left.
Her footsteps echoed louder than her thoughts.
The next day at school, the air felt heavier than usual.
Whispers followed her through the halls.
"That's her."
"The defective one."
"Look at her aura… it's so weak."
Blackfire kept her eyes forward, her hands clenched at her sides.
One of the students in the group gave a wry smile.
"Careful," he said mockingly. "If you bump into her, she might short-circuit."
Soft laughter followed.
Before Blackfire could react, someone stepped in front of her.
Clark.
He stood straight, fists clenched.
"Move" he said.
"And who are you supposed to be?"
He simply didn't move.
Something in his expression
"…Tch," one of them muttered. "Whatever."
They walked away.
Clark turned to her.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded slowly.
"…Yes."
Between classes. During breaks. Even when others stared.
No one dared touch her.
Not while Clark was there.
At lunch, they sat together in silence.
After a while, Blackfire spoke.
"You don't have to do this," she said. "They'll target you too."
Clark shook his head.
"Then let them."
She looked at him, confused.
"Why?" she asked. "Why stay?"
He thought for a moment.
"…Because being alone is worse."
Blackfire looked down at her tray.
For the first time in a long while, she didn't eat in silence.
And for the first time, the world felt just a little less heavy.