CHAPTER 361: DO YOU TRUST ME , CIEL !

It had been over a month since that night when Lexie had reached a fraction of Isiah’s guarded, rotten soul.

Neither of them had spoken of it, nor had they crossed paths again. It was as though the moment had been sealed away, buried deep in a place neither dared to revisit.

Lexie, for her part, had stopped doing anything that tethered her to him. She no longer sought him out, no longer tried to mend the bridge or unravel the cold indifference he wrapped himself in.

Instead, she poured her focus into healing—physically. It was a slow, painful process, but she surrounded herself with Ciel and Eijar, even Astrid was treating her nicely .

It was a blessing, really, to have them. She should have been thankful, and on most days, she was. Yet, in the quiet moments, when the world felt still and the weight of solitude crept in, she found herself thinking of him.

Of his icy words, the fleeting warmth of his embrace, and the pain that flickered in his eyes for a split second before he closed himself off again.

As for Isiah, he had buried himself in his own pursuits, avoiding any interaction with her.

Whether out of guilt, coldess, confusion, or stubbornness, no one could say.

It was late at night when Ciel burst into Lexie’s room, his face pale and his hands trembling as he shook her awake.

"Lexie!" he whispered urgently, his voice cracking with fear. "Wake up! You have to get up right now!"

Lexie blinked groggily, pushing herself upright in her bed. "Ciel? What’s wrong?" she asked, her voice still thick with sleep. But the urgency in his eyes snapped her fully awake.

"It’s Isiah," Ciel said, gripping her hands tightly. She could feel the tremors in his fingers as he spoke. "He’s found a way. He and Astrid... they’re planning to level up. They’re leaving. Tonight."

Her breath hitched, and her heart sank at the implication. "Leaving..." she whispered, her voice trailing off .

Ciel nodded frantically. "Yes, leaving. I heard him talking to Astrid. But... Lexie, I think—" His voice faltered as his grip on her hands tightened. "I think he’s going to leave you here. In Afan."

The thought of being left behind, of Isiah abandoning her again after everything, was almost too much to bear.

Ciel’s trembling voice brought her back to the present. "I-I don’t want to go without you," he stammered. "Please, Lexie, you have to come with us. You have to convince him!"

Lexie reached out and cupped Ciel’s face with trembling hands.

Lexie tightened her hold on Ciel’s trembling hands, her voice calm and steady despite the storm brewing in her chest.

"Ciel, look at me," she said softly, leaning in to meet his panicked gaze. "Calm down. Just breathe, okay? It’s going to be okay. I promise. You don’t need to worry about me, alright? Just breathe for me now. Deep breaths, like this."

Lexie took a slow, exaggerated breath, showing him how to calm himself. Hesitant at first, Ciel followed her lead, his breaths shaky but gradually evening out.

"That’s it," she murmured, brushing a hand through his hair in a soothing gesture.

At that moment, the door creaked open, followed by the sound of hurried, deliberate footsteps cutting through the silence.

Lexie’s breath hitched as a shadow moved into the dim light. Even before he fully stepped into view, she knew it was Isiah.

Her hands dropped from Ciel’s face instantly, and she took a small step back, her heartbeat quickening as his piercing gaze swept over the room.

"Everything is good," she said quickly, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to sound calm. "You don’t have to worry about anything."

She was speaking to Ciel, but in truth, she felt as if her words carried another weight, one meant for Isiah. She retreated, her chest tightening under the heavy silence that followed.

Isiah moved forward, his presence commanding the room as he rested a firm hand on Ciel’s shoulder. He looked down at the boy, his expression unreadable, but his tone was steady as he finally broke the silence.

"It’s time."

Two words, spoken with finality, sent a jolt through Lexie. Her heart sank as Ciel turned to her, his eyes wide with a mixture of hope and fear.

"Time for what?" Lexie asked cautiously.

Isiah’s eyes flicked to her briefly, cold and detached as ever, before he looked back to Ciel. "Get ready. We’re leaving."

Lexie’s gaze dropped to the floor. What had she been expecting? Of course, this was how it would go. They hadn’t exchanged a single word in a month—not since that night when she had kissed him with all the desperation she could muster.

She had known this moment was inevitable, but knowing didn’t make it any easier.

Still, she refused to let her emotions spiral, not when Ciel was already so shaken. The best thing she could do was to keep him calm and prevent the weight of separation from crushing his fragile heart.

Swallowing her feelings, Lexie gently took his hands. Her smile was soft but resolute as she looked into his wide, worried eyes.

"Ciel," she began, her voice steady, "get ready, like Isiah said. I promise I’ll follow you the moment I feel my body is strong enough. How about that?"

Ciel’s hands tightened around Lexie’s, his small fingers trembling as he shook his head vigorously. "No! I don’t want to go without you!" he cried, his voice breaking with desperation.

Lexie’s heart ached at his resistance, but she forced herself to stay composed, her fingers gently brushing over his knuckles.

"Ciel," she said softly, her tone both firm and soothing, "I need you to be strong for me. Just for a little while. You’ll be with Isiah and Astrid. They’ll take care of you until I catch up. I promise."

He shook his head again, tears welling in his wide eyes. "But what if you don’t come? What if you stay here forever??"

Her chest tightened, but she leaned forward, cupping his face in her hands. "Look at me," she whispered, her eyes locking with his. "I will come to you. You’re not leaving me behind, okay? This isn’t forever. I just need to make sure I’m ready to travel. You want me to be healthy when I see you again, don’t you?"

Ciel’s lip quivered as he searched her face, his small frame shaking with unspoken fear. "But—"

"No buts," she interrupted gently, her voice unwavering. "I need you to trust me. Do you trust me, Ciel!"