**AUTHOR NOTE: MORE CHARCATER ART HAS BEEN ADDED.
Morning arrived swiftly, its light barely slipping into Kael's room, when a soft knock on the door pulled him back from his dreams.
Kael groaned, eyes fluttering open lazily. He rolled over, burying his face in the pillow, but the knocking persisted.
It was still early. Too early.
Dragging himself up, he stumbled to the door, his hair messy and his voice heavy with sleep."Who is it…?" he mumbled as he twisted the handle.
Standing on the other side was Lyra, dressed neatly but visibly tense. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and her arms hung stiffly at her sides."Mother? Good morning," Kael said, straightening himself a little, trying to shake off the sleep in his tone.
Lyra gave a soft, hesitant smile. "Ah… good morning, Kael."Her voice carried a silent tension, and without waiting for a response, she stepped into the room.
Kael, now more alert, frowned slightly. He closed the door and turned to her, sensing the shift in atmosphere.
"We need to talk," she said, standing near the edge of his bed but not sitting.
Kael's chest tightened a little. "Is everything alright, Mother?" he asked, moving closer, concern on his face.
Lyra nodded slowly, though her eyes didn't quite meet his. She forced a smile, and replied quietly, "Yes… I'm fine. I just have something I need to ask you."
Kael swallowed hard, his pulse quickening.
"Kael… did you come into our room yesterday?" Her voice was calm, but Kael could sense the suspicion in her tone.
His felt his heart skip a beat. She knows. She found out I took it.
His thoughts swirled in panic, but his expression stayed composed—barely. He took a slow breath, calmed his nerves, and let his body language appear natural.
He was not just a boy anymore.
"Umm..." he trailed intentionally, as if weighing whether to confess or lie. Then he nodded slowly. "Yes… Mother," he admitted in a low, apologetic tone.
Lyra's face twitched with a sudden rise of emotion. Before she could react, Kael quickly lowered his head in a deep bow, cutting off her building response.
"Mother, I'm so sorry… I really am," he said, his voice sincere, and he added a little bit of guilt and regret. "I couldn't resist myself."
His words struck her like a sudden gust of wind. Her heart pounded in her chest—so he did take it. Her mind raced, and the embarrassment she had buried beneath the curiosity returned with full force.
He stole my gown… he saw it, touched it… why?
"Why did you do it?" she asked sharply, taking a step forward. Her voice cracked just slightly.
Kael didn't flinch. He kept his head lowered a moment longer, then slowly straightened and looked at her with eyes.
"Mother… the book… it's so interesting," he said, letting the words fall naturally from his lips.
Lyra blinked. "The book?"
"Yes," Kael continued. "The one in the drawer. The magical theories, the spells, the notes… it's all so addictive. I keep finding myself going back to it again and again."
He gave a small, awkward laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "But since Father forbade me from reading it… I didn't have a choice. I had to sneak in."
Lyra's expression changed in an instant. Her anger was now filled with sudden confusion.
Book? she thought. Did I hear that right?
Her brows furrowed slightly. She remembered keeping a few old magic scrolls and books in the same drawer. She had nearly forgotten about them.
"Wait… you weren't talking about…" she started but didn't finish the sentence aloud. She stared at him for a moment, studying his face.
Kael met her gaze with the perfect blend of embarrassment and passion.
"I know I shouldn't have," he added, "but I just really wanted to learn more. I promise I didn't take anything else."
Lyra remained silent, caught between her earlier suspicion and the sudden shift in context. The seductive gown, the half-locked drawer, Kael sneaking around—and yet here he was, claiming it was all because of a book.
For a long moment, she just looked at him.
"Is that… truly the reason?" she finally asked, her voice softening just a little.
Kael nodded earnestly. "Yes, Mother. I swear."