The sound of rain had stopped.
The room was dim, lit only by the soft flicker of a nearby lantern. Noah sat in the chair by her bed, half-asleep but still watching her—still trying to understand who she was and why fate had dragged her across his path.
Then, suddenly—
A voice. Hoarse but sharp.
"Who are you?"
Noah blinked, startled.
She was awake now. Really awake. Her body barely moved, but her eyes—partially open, fogged with pain—locked onto him like daggers.
"I'm Noah," he said quietly. "Noah Vale."
A long silence passed between them.
Then, she whispered:
"I should slice your throat for bringing me here."
Her voice was calm. Not angry. Just… matter-of-fact.
Noah didn't flinch. He saw the way her fingers twitched, like they were looking for a blade that wasn't there. But her body wouldn't move. Her muscles trembled. Her breaths were shallow.
Her core was broken.
Even she knew it.
"You're hurt," he said. "I don't need a reason to help someone who's bleeding to death."
She was quiet.
Then her eyes fluttered fully open, finally locking onto his—clear now, no fog, no pain.
And Noah froze.
They were beautiful.
A strange, burning gold, flecked with shadows. Sharp. Intelligent. Sad.
Deadly.
For a brief moment, all he could do was stare.
She noticed. And smirked faintly.
"I was half-blind when I woke up," she murmured. "But now I see you clearly."
Noah swallowed. "I—I…"
"Thank you," she said, cutting him off. "But I'll be going now."
She pushed herself upright—slowly, shakily—and began searching for the door.
"You're still hurt," Noah said, standing. "You should rest—"
"Wait—"
He barely finished the word before it happened.
In a flash, she turned—no warning, no noise—and Noah's world flipped. His back hit the wooden floor with a heavy thud.
She was standing over him, barely breathing, one foot planted beside his ribs.
"I may not have energy left," she said coldly, "but I can still take down a boy with none."
He looked up at her, stunned… and still thinking about her eyes.
She stared at him a second longer. Then she turned.
And vanished.
No door creaked. No footsteps followed.
She was just… gone.
Moments later, Yuni returned, balancing a tea tray in her arms.
She stepped into the room and blinked.
"…Where's the girl?"
Noah didn't answer.
He was still on the floor, still staring at the ceiling.
Still thinking about the eyes that almost killed him.
And how beautiful they were.