LYRIAN
They'd barely stepped out of the glowing wall when Lyrian glanced back, eyes wide with awe.
"You're telling me only Resonants can see that?" she whispered.
"Yep. To non-Resonants it's just a wall," Feya replied.
"That is just amazing. Your whole Nest is—right, Reone?"
Reone, unusually quiet, looked at her and forced a thin smile.
"Yeah. It is."
Lyrian turned to the Diviners. "Now I understand why you're all willing to fight so hard for it. It's so worth it."
"It's not the most comfortable place," Lhanak murmured, "but… yeah. It's pretty sweet."
Lyrian winced. "Right. Sorry. I forgot this lifestyle also has a harsher side."
Feya gave her a forgiving smile. "It's fine."
"We've learnt to live with it," Lhanak added softly.
"I don't know if I should say this…" Lyrian hesitated, "but what your people built here—especially under such brutal circumstances—it's really admirable. You're all incredibly strong."
"Thank you, Lyrian. We appreciate you saying that," Primi said. Then, gently but firm, "But maybe we continue the rest of the journey in silence. We're still on a mission."
Lyrian froze, startled. "Oh. Sorry—I didn't realize I was making so much noise."
"It's like having Anika around… but with wings," Lhanak muttered.
Feya hid a smile.
Lyrian bit her lip, suddenly self-conscious. She stayed quiet after that.
As they walked, she couldn't help noticing how withdrawn Reone seemed—lost somewhere deep inside himself. She wanted to ask if he was okay… but after Primi's comment, she didn't dare.
They reached a split in the path. Primi raised a hand, expression serious.
"Okay. This is where I leave you. I'll intercept the Extractors and lure them toward the unstable tunnels. You three head there now and find a safe place to hide. Feya and Lhanak will lead."
"And once they're in the tunnel," Lyrian said, "I'll bring the ceiling down with a sonic blast."
"Exactly." Primi nodded.
"But… I have one question," Lyrian said.
"How very Anika of you," Lhanak muttered dryly. "I'm shocked."
Lyrian ignored him. "Where are you going to be during the blast, Primi?"
"Good question," Reone said quietly—finally engaging. Lyrian noticed. "We don't want you caught in it."
"Relax," Primi said. "I won't actually go into the tunnel. I'll just make them think I did. There are alcoves in the ceiling before you reach the unstable section. I'll slip into one."
"Alcoves,you say?" Reone echoed. "Now I understand where you three came from when we first met."
Primi nodded.
"Alright. Alcoves. Got it," Lyrian said.
Primi clapped his hands once. "Does everyone understand the plan then?"
They all nodded.
"Good. Move quickly."
They turned to go—until Primi spoke again.
"Reone, wait. I need to go over something with you."
Reone blinked. "Just me?"
"Yes. The rest of you go ahead."
"But why talk to him and not us?" Feya questioned uncharacteristically.
"It's just a minor detail about my part of the plan.Nothing you three have to be here for ," Primi said, giving her a pointed look—one Lyrian didn't understand, though everyone else clearly did. Suddenly the group became very willing to obey.
"Of course," Feya said quickly. "Let's go guys."
Lhanak and Feya started down the path but Lyrian remained where she was.
"Reone?" she said, frowning between the two men.
Reone stared at Primi strangely for a moment, then placed a gentle, reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Go. I'll catch up in a minute."
She hesitated.
"Lyrian… go. I'll be right there," he murmured, softer this time.
His tone eased her. Still looking unsure, she nodded. "Good luck, Primi."
Primi gave her a short nod, and she finally walked away—though not before glancing back at Reone one last time, curiosity written across her face.
*****
REONE
"What's this about, Primi?"
Reone asked once Lyrian and the others were out of earshot. His arms folded tightly across his chest, tension radiating off him.
Primi didn't waste time. "You know what this is about. You're lying to her."
Reone exhaled, long and heavy. He'd expected this.
His arms dropped to his sides.
"I'm doing it for her own good."
Primi's eyes narrowed behind the mask. "Her own good? How does hiding the truth help her?"
Reone's voice rose before he could stop it.
"Because she won't have to carry the weight of knowing she died."
He forced himself to calm down, lowering his tone.
"Do you understand what that means, Primi? For almost two hours, she was a corpse. No heartbeat. No breath. No chance of ever seeing her loved ones again under normal circumstances. How do I tell her that?"
Primi blinked slowly, shaken despite himself.
"I understand it's a heavy thing. But from what I've seen, Lyrian is strong, maybe strong enough to face it."
Reone shook his head.
"And maybe she isn't. Either way, I'm not gambling with her peace of mind. And what's so bad about it if she never learns about what happened? Nothing. She'll just continue her life without that… horror hanging over her."
Primi crossed his arms now, mirroring Reone.
"I think you're underestimating what keeping this secret will do to you."
Reone ground his teeth.
"I can handle it."
The words came out sharp. False.
Because honestly? Right now he wanted to dissapear from existence, just to erase what he'd witnessed.
Primi tilted his head.
"If you say so, Legion warrior. But what about us? Your liitle white lie drags me and my people into it — whether you meant to or not."
Reone winced. Because Primi was right. And that made everything worse.
"I'm sorry. But you all know I'm right, or else you would've told her already."
Primi shook his head.
"We kept quiet so far because we had bigger priorities. Not because we agree with you."
Reone stepped closer, desperation leaking into his voice despite himself.
"Don't say anything,Primi. Please."
Reone hated himself for begging. Reone never begged.
But for Lyrian? He was ready to drop to his knees and grovel in front of anyone.
Primi studied him for a long, unreadable moment, then sighed.
"Fine. I'll keep your secret. I can't promise the others will — but I'd be very surprised if they said anything. Diviners don't interfere in the personal matters of others.Even less so if they're outsiders, I think."
Reone let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
"Thank you, Primi."
He meant it. Deeply. Especially since he rrealized how by-the-book Primi usually was.
Primi adjusted his mask.
"For the record, I still think you're making a mistake. Lying is wrong."
Reone didn't argue. He couldn't. Because somewhere inside him, buried under fear, he knew Primi was right.
Primi stepped back toward the tunnel.
"I should go. And so should you. Good luck, Legion warrior."
He turned and sprinted into the darkness.
Reone watched him go.
"You too, Diviner warrior," he murmured quietly.
He stood there for a moment before walking into the other tunnel.