Alden chuckled softly, shaking his head in mild amusement. "I should have expected as much. Arcadia doesn't produce anyone less than exceptional. I suppose I'll have to accept that Maya has chosen someone with more than just brains."
Maya, who had remained quiet throughout the exchange, finally allowed herself to relax, though her thoughts still lingered on the subtle tensions beneath the surface. There were layers to the evening that hadn't been fully uncovered, secrets that lay buried between the three of them. And yet, for now, there was a temporary reprieve. Alden's laughter had softened the atmosphere, easing the tension that had once thickened the air.
But Maya knew her brother well. His acceptance of Astron wasn't full or complete. There would be more questions and more tests, and Alden, in his own way, would continue to evaluate Astron—perhaps not as directly as before, but certainly with the same scrutiny.
