The shop closed early that day.
For once—
There was no urgency.
No pressure.
Just quiet.
Lyra remained inside, leaning lightly against the counter.
"…You're different from what I expected," she said.
Andres glanced at her.
"…In what way?"
She thought for a moment.
"…You don't chase power."
A pause.
"…You build around it."
Andres looked down briefly.
"…Power without structure collapses."
She nodded slightly.
"…And structure without trust?"
He met her gaze again.
"…Doesn't last."
Silence followed.
But this time—
It wasn't tense.
It was calm.
Comfortable.
Real.
Lyra exhaled softly.
"…I'm glad I approached you."
Andres didn't answer right away.
Then—
"…So am I."
And that moment—
Small.
Quiet.
Unnoticed by the world—
Became something important.
Because for the first time since arriving in this world—
Andres wasn't just building something external.
He was forming something real.