[21:12] Eastern Fortress Prison — Orion Kingdom
The Queen remained submerged within Akasa’s past—memories layered with mystery and pain.
Emotion after emotion surged forth, weaving together strands of fate that—strangely—felt intertwined.
Elsewhere, the atmosphere surrounding Raffy and the others had finally settled.
After the initial panic of being displaced into an unfamiliar place, they could at last breathe—if only slightly easier.
Before long, a quiet conversation formed between Raffy and Ezra.
“Fy… maybe this isn’t the right time to talk about this,” Ezra said softly.
“But honestly… there never really is a right time.”
“So… can you tell me?” he asked carefully.
“What’s actually going on with Akasa?”
Raffy turned away. He fell silent for a moment, his gaze avoiding Ezra’s.
“No—no, it’s nothing,” he replied with a nervous smile. But the tone betrayed him. He was hiding something.
“Fy… Akasa’s our friend too,” Ezra continued gently.
“When he disappears, we’re lost too. When he’s hurting, we feel it.”
“But if I’m being honest…” Ezra hesitated, then met Raffy’s eyes.
“Your reactions whenever Akasa’s involved—they’re… a bit extreme.”
The suspicion was clear. Ezra wasn’t accusing—he was asking.
Raffy didn’t answer immediately. His shoulders tensed, jaw tightening as though he were holding something heavy inside his chest.
“I… I made a promise, Zra,” he said quietly.
His eyes darkened. His chest felt tight.
That promise wasn’t just words—it was a burden he carried alone.
Yet when he saw the hopeful expressions around him, his resolve began to crack.
“Is it selfish to keep hiding this?
They deserve to know. After everything that’s happened… maybe it’s time.”
Ezra exhaled slowly and placed a reassuring hand on Raffy’s shoulder.
“It’s okay, Fy. We’ll keep it a secret,” he said firmly.
“Y-yeah, Fy,” Chafik added, stuttering slightly.
“I-if there’s something we can help with… w-we will.”
The others said nothing—but their eyes spoke volumes.
Raffy could no longer avoid it.