The test hurt her like hell. But it wasn’t the pain or the physical strain—it was the mental weight, the way they had pried into her mind, exposing things she’d kept buried for years. The anger she got from having her requests disregarded- it washed over her like a drug.

She barely registered the moment they told her it was over. All she could focus on was the quiet buzzing in her ears, the echoes of their words still lingering in her thoughts. She felt raw, exposed, as though every part of her had been peeled back and examined under the cold, alien light.

When the door to the testing room slid open, it felt like a lifetime since she had been inside. She stumbled into the hall, her body moving on autopilot, desperate for some kind of relief, some break from the suffocating atmosphere of the hospital.

And then she saw him—Edian.

He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his usual confident stance softened by something unreadable in his eyes. He straightened as soon as he saw her, his gaze sharp and focused, like he was seeing her for the first time.

“You did well,” he said, his voice low, and quieter than usual, a stark contrast to the casual tone he often used with others. “Really well.”

His words landed like a balm against the rawness she felt, soothing the jagged edges of her red frayed nerves. It wasn’t just praise—it was the kind of attention she hadn’t received in years. It felt… overwhelming.

Lilia swallowed, caught in her own mind. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate his words—she did, more than she could admit—but it was too much, too soon. She didn’t know how to respond. She wasn’t used to this kind of affection, this kind of validation. In that moment, all the emotional cracks she’d spent so long hiding seemed to open wide, so much so she feared she might fall into them and get lost forever.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

But there was no time to process. The Elders were already nearby, their disapproving stares heavy as they watched the exchange.

“You’ve done enough for today, Edian,” one of them muttered, their voice cold and clipped. “Let’s keep the focus where it belongs.”

Lilia felt their gaze shift from her to Edian, their judgment clear, their attempts to correct him subtle but sharp. But she didn’t care. In that moment, their words seemed distant—nothing more than background noise to the sudden pull she felt toward Edian’s praise.

It felt good. She didn’t want it to stop.

*

Edian’s comm buzzed against his pocket, the sudden vibration pulling him from his thoughts. He pulled it out, glancing down at the message from Lilia.

I wanna hang out with the cabin, but I have no clue how. I don’t wanna mess things up, and I feel like I don’t fit in. Help?

He stared at the text for a moment, processing it. Lilia—asking for help? It was subtle, but there was a quiet vulnerability beneath her words that caught his attention. She wasn’t one to ask for assistance easily, especially not after everything she’d been through.

He couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his sharp lips. This was exactly what the Elders wanted from him. They’d made it clear that he needed to help Lilia open up, to push her out of her shell, and here was his chance. He had gotten the invitation for cabin one to join the program days ago, a series of group activities designed to bring them closer together, to encourage teamwork. But Lilia? She wasn’t sure about it. She needed the right push, and he was going to be the one to do it.

He didn’t hesitate. His fingers flew over the screen, typing quickly.

Yea sure totally!! I’ll help with whatever you need

He hit send before he could overthink it, his heart already racing with excitement. The Elders would praise him for once after they hear about this…

Because as much as the Elders seemed to disapprove of his every move, they would have to see this for what it was— simply helping Lilia become more involved. This was a simple endeavor; this was pushing her toward something that would make her better. Something that would help her grow, just like the Elders had been asking him to do. And if he could be the one to guide her through it… well, that’s a bonus for him.

He glanced down at the message again, his mind already turning. There was no way she could back out to this now.