As the cabin fell silent, Astron did not say much for a while.
"Maybe you're right," Irina said finally, her voice softer. "But at the very least… I'd still fight back."
Astron's gaze lingered on her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "That's because you've never had to question whether it was worth it."
Irina opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself, her frustration mingling with a newfound understanding. He's right. I've always had the power to push back, to make people listen. But what about someone who didn't? What about someone like him?
The rhythmic hum of the train filled the silence between them as Irina stared out the window, her hazel eyes tracing the glowing cliffs and shimmering waterfalls outside. The Arcadia Dominion's mana-infused beauty passed by in a blur, but her mind was elsewhere, caught in the web of Astron's words and the quiet truths they carried.
