Chapter 162: Seraph Speak?
"Good morning, Seraph," he said with a smile as he entered, noticing a plate sitting beside her at the table. 'Good, at least she is eating now,' he thought to himself with relief.
She turned away from the window and looked toward him, her eyes holding a bit more life than before as her gaze landed on him.
He gently smiled and sat down across from her. "How are you feeling now?"
She softly nodded her head, making Orion raise an eyebrow. "Can you not talk?"
She hesitated for a moment, her eyes shifting here and there before she took a deep breath. "A...i..." she tried to speak, yet couldn't form coherent words.
Orion's expression turned serious as he sensed the hesitation and unfamiliarity she held in trying to speak. He gestured with his hands to calm her down. "No need to force yourself. I can wait until you're in a better condition for a chat."
Her lips clamped shut as she lowered her head. Her shoulders trembled slightly.
She hated this. Hated that she couldn't speak to the one person who had made her feel safe in years. The only person who had treated her with warmth since her mother's passing.
But no tears came. They had long since dried up.
He observed her fragile state and spoke in the gentlest voice he could manage. "Seraph… if you ever feel like talking, just know I'll be here. Take all the time you need—there's no rush, alright?"
Seraph didn't raise her head but softly nodded. Orion also didn't speak, choosing to sit silently rather than leave her alone too quickly.
Time passed until a knock sounded on the door. "Master, you will be late for the academy," Rina's soft voice came from outside.