CHAPTER 60: CH 60: TAKING ACTION- PART 1

The atmosphere in the house had grown heavier by the day.

Now that Kana was no longer around to mediate or lighten the mood, the silence between Lysera and Irielle became almost unbearable.

They rarely spoke, and when they did, it was out of necessity—grunted exchanges over meals or curt nods when crossing paths.

The once peaceful air of the house felt strained and tense, like a taut string on the verge of snapping.

The first day apart from Kana was spent at their respective jobs, but neither could focus.

At the bureau, Lysera found herself fumbling through reports she could usually breeze through.

She misfiled documents, signed off on the wrong papers, and even gave a mismatched order that had her subordinates gently correcting her.

"Ma’am... are you alright?"

One of them asked hesitantly.

Lysera’s jaw tightened, and she brushed them off with a nod, trying not to let the shame reach her eyes.

She knew why she was distracted. It wasn’t just worry for Kana—it was Irielle.

Ever since Kana left for the temple, something had shifted. Irielle had been distant, volatile, almost like a storm waiting to break. And it was getting harder to pretend she didn’t notice.

Meanwhile, Irielle wasn’t faring any better. She had taken up her usual post at the research annex, but no one dared to approach her.

Her coworkers murmured among themselves, tossing glances in her direction.

"You ask her."

"No, you!"

"I’m not going anywhere near her. Something about her... it’s like she’ll kill me if I say the wrong word."

In the end, no one approached her at all. They gave her a wide berth, and Irielle, consumed by her own unease, didn’t even seem to notice.

Her thoughts were trapped elsewhere—trailing behind Kana’s last smile, echoing in the absence she had left behind.

When they returned to the house—Lysera’s house in truth, though Irielle had made it her own over time—the silence greeted them first, followed by the same cold distance.

The dinner table remained empty, the hallway lights off. The next morning brought no change. Another wordless breakfast. Another day in limbo.

But that evening, as they stepped into the foyer, something finally cracked.

"I can’t take this anymore. I’m going to the temple. I have to see her. Even if I have to sneak in."

Irielle said, her voice sharp with frustration.

Lysera turned sharply. "You’ll be committing a crime. And I’ll be legally obligated to stop you."

She warned.

"Then stop me. What will you do, Lysera? Arrest me? Fight me? Call the guards?"

Irielle snapped.

"You know I would never use my real self’s powers for something like that."

Irielle scoffed.

"Exactly. You’re too law-bound. Too honorable."

"And you—"

Lysera took a step forward, eyes narrowing

"—you’re just as bound as I am. At least I chose to seal my powers. You had yours taken away. Stripped. And it’s made you reckless."

Their voices rose with each word, the tension between them combusting into something raw and bitter.

The distance closed. Just a few steps separated them, both standing in the doorway, breathing hard, faces inches apart.

They might’ve said more. They might’ve thrown words—or worse—if not for the sudden cry that echoed from outside.

"Did you hear? The High Priestess’s entourage was attacked!"

"What?!"

"An explosion near the inner wing—they say some people are missing!"

The two women froze. Every muscle in Lysera’s body went rigid.

Kana.

She was with High Priestess Jenna.

Irielle’s face lost all color.

"She’s—"

Neither of them needed to say her name aloud. It hit them both at once like a gut punch.

Lysera’s earlier anger evaporated as her instincts kicked in, her mind already racing through possible routes and clearance permissions. She turned to Irielle, the panic in her eyes barely concealed.

But she didn’t need to say it. Irielle was already heading for the door.

This time, neither of them tried to stop the other.

For the first time in two days, Lysera and Irielle looked at each other not as adversaries, but as allies with a shared goal.

They said nothing, but both understood—whatever their differences, saving Kana came first.

"I’ll get permission to take on this case from Sergeant Delran right now."

Lysera said, already grabbing her coat.

Irielle didn’t hesitate. "I’m coming with you."

Their steps were swift as they made their way through the dim streets, the worry in their hearts outweighing the tension that had divided them before.

The station came into view, a blur of movement and noise as guards rushed about, voices raised and orders shouted.

News of the explosion at the temple had thrown everything into chaos.

Inside, Sergeant Delran stood in the center of it all, surrounded by reports and guards seeking direction. Her eyes were bloodshot, her hair slightly out of place.

She looked up as Lysera approached, her expression strained.

"I don’t have time for another headache right now. Make it quick."

She snapped."

"I’m taking over the temple case."

Lysera said without preamble.

Delran’s eyes narrowed.

"Denied."

Lysera blinked, thrown off by how fast the answer came.

"You don’t even know what I’m—"

"I know exactly what you’re asking. And the answer is still no. I’ve already assigned a unit, and I won’t have interference from—"

Delran cut in.

Before she could finish, Irielle stepped forward and grabbed the front of the Sergeant’s uniform, yanking her in close.

"Let me make this clear. We are going to investigate this. Whether you approve or not."

Irielle said through clenched teeth.

Delran stumbled back, startled as Irielle shook her slightly for emphasis.

"And if you want to press charges later, fine. I’ll face them. I’ll go through the courts. I’ll fight it properly. But right now, you either let us handle this or get out of the way."

Irielle continued, eyes blazing.

The noise in the station dulled for a moment. A few nearby guards stopped to watch. Delran looked between the two of them—Lysera standing tall and calm, Irielle radiating fury—and let out a long, tired sigh.

"You two..."

Delran muttered, rubbing her temple.

"You nobles really are a pain."

But her resistance cracked.

She glanced around, muttered something under her breath, and finally stepped aside.

"Fine. Do whatever you want. Just don’t drag me into it when it explodes."

She said.

Lysera gave a firm nod.

"We won’t."

Irielle released her grip without another word.

As the two women turned and headed out of the station, the tension between them had not vanished—but it had changed.

For now, it was focused, unified, directed at the same goal.

They would find Kana.

No matter what it took.

Outside the station, the city buzzed with rumors, fear, and confusion. But Lysera and Irielle moved with new purpose.

The moment was fragile, their truce born out of necessity rather than reconciliation, but it held firm as their concern for Kana outweighed everything else.

"We’ll start at the edge of the temple grounds."

Lysera said, glancing toward the horizon where smoke still curled faintly into the sky.

Irielle nodded, her voice quieter now.

"If she’s out there... we’ll find her."

For the first time, neither of them questioned the other’s intentions. There was only one thing left to do—bring Kana home.