Chapter 23: He saw everything
When Adyr got home, he noticed the table was already set. Dinner was waiting, fresh and warm, and unlike most days, there were two plates instead of one. Niva sat quietly, hands in her lap, as if she had been waiting for a while.
Normally, she would've eaten by now and gone back to her routine before the nightly blackout. The change caught him off guard.
"Niva?" He said, slipping off his shoes. "What's going on?"
His sister looked more distant than usual, her eyes quieter, her posture more withdrawn. "Today... I wanted to have dinner with you," she said, forcing a small smile.
It was obvious something was weighing on her. Her mother was heading out on a dangerous mission—it was only natural she'd be uneasy.
Adyr gave her a soft, understanding smile. "Alright. Just let me wash up and change," he said, then went upstairs. He didn't take long. He didn't want to keep her waiting.
The two ate in silence. It was too quiet, too heavy. Even Adyr couldn't think of anything to say to lift her mood. It was something she needed to work through on her own.
Eventually, Niva broke the silence. "What if something happens to her?" She asked, her voice trembling, eyes beginning to redden.
Adyr sighed, lowering the fork halfway to his mouth. He reached across the table, gently taking her slightly shaking hand.
"Nothing will happen," he said calmly. "She said she'd be with the STF, remember? I'm sure they won't let anything touch her."
"But..." Niva opened her mouth again, then closed it, afraid of her own thoughts. After a pause, she finally whispered, "I've read some really scary things on the forums. What if they run into something even they can't handle?"