Ashes of the Elite

I step into her room, and the first thing I notice is how warm it feels compared to the cold stone corridors. A small candle flickers on the desk, casting soft, dancing shadows on the walls. The room is small but cozy—lived-in. A deep blue carpet covers the stone floor, softening each step. Her bed sits in the center of the room, piled with an absurd amount of blankets and pillows, all slightly messy from her just getting out of it.

To the right, there's a small wooden desk and chair, neat but cluttered with papers, and what looks like an old, leather-bound book. On the opposite wall, to the left, there's a tall, full-sized mirror, polished so clean I can see both of us reflected in its glow. Next to the desk, I catch sight of an open closet—inside, her inquisitor uniforms hangs pressed and pristine, but I also spot softer, more personal clothes laid folded underneath.

I stand there for a second, taking it all in, and it hits me—this is the first time I've ever been in a girl's room.

Before I can get lost in that thought, she brushes past me, the faint scent of her stirring in the air, and closes the door softly behind us. She turns around, her face still flushed beet red, arms crossed in front of her.

Her voice comes out in a rush, half-whispered but tinged with a tinge of disbelief. "Ayato, what the hell are you doing here? It's the middle of the night!"

I just sigh, running a hand through my hair. "I wanted to talk to you."

I rub the back of my neck, feeling like an idiot, but I force myself to meet her eyes. "I was... in the area," I mutter, trying to sound casual. "I thought I'd stop by and see if you were here. Lucky for me... you are."

She just stares at me, and for a moment I think she's going to yell at me. But instead, her lips tug up into a small, teasing smile. Her eyes soften in that way they do—warm and a little too gentle for someone in her position. "Ahh... so you missed me that much, huh? Used rank and power to come find me in the dead of night?"

I can't help but chuckle, shaking my head. "Something like that."

The words leave my mouth before I even think, and then I glance at her again—and that's when it hits me. Her thin nightgown clings to her frame in the candlelight, and suddenly I'm painfully aware of how... very female she is. I look away fast, swallowing hard, my face heating up.

She notices. I can tell by the way her blush deepens as she glances down at herself. She lets out a breathy little laugh, tugging at the hem of her gown. "You... um... you can sit on the bed. We can talk."