CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46: JUST THE TWO OF US

Back in Grayson, Jace and Eva finally arrived at the apartment. The city streets were still buzzing outside, but once the door shut behind them, the familiar quiet returned.

Jace glanced around, his eyes searching for Serai. The living room was empty.

From the kitchen came the faint sound of the TV and the clink of utensils. When he stepped in, he found her standing there, staring into the cupboards.

"Hey, you okay?" Jace asked.

She turned her head toward him. Her English was still stiff, her voice uncertain. "Food. I’m hungry."

Jace rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh. Don’t worry, I’ll help you out in a bit."

Leaving her to it, he followed Eva down the hall. She was in his room, already pulling clothes out of a small bag she’d brought with her.

Jace leaned against the doorway. "What are you doing?"

"I’m going back to my apartment," Eva said without looking up. She folded one of her shirts, stuffing it into the bag. "I can’t stay here forever. And I need to handle my car situation."

Jace went quiet for a moment, his shoulders dropping slightly. "...I... okay. Fair enough."

He tried to keep his tone casual, but the sigh slipped out anyway.

He had to admit, he’d grown used to her being around.

Even the tension between them, it made the place feel less empty. Now, watching her pack, he realized how much he’d enjoyed her presence.

Eva zipped the bag halfway, her movements slower now. She finally looked up, meeting his eyes.

"It’s not just the car," she said quietly. "It’s everything."

Jace tilted his head. "Everything?"

She straightened, letting out a deep breath. "Jace, I’ve been staying here because... I didn’t know what else to do. My powers are gone, my car’s trashed, my apartment bills are piling up, and every time I look at you—" She stopped, shaking her head. "It reminds me of what I lost. Even if it wasn’t your fault."

He stayed quiet, guilt creeping into his chest.

Eva rubbed her temple, frustrated with herself. "I just... I need space. To figure out who I am without my powers. To deal with this on my own, at least a little. If I stay here, I feel like I’m just circling around the same mess, waiting for something to magically fix itself."

Jace opened his mouth to respond, but she lifted her hand, stopping him. "Don’t apologize. I know you’re carrying your own shit too. That’s the thing... I can’t keep leaning on you for mine. Not right now."

Her voice softened as she zipped the bag closed. "This doesn’t mean I won’t see you. Or that I don’t care. It just means... I need to step back before I drown in this."

Jace swallowed hard, nodding slowly. For once, he didn’t argue.

He stayed quiet as Eva shouldered her bag. He wanted to say something, but the words stuck. For once, he respected her choice.

Eva caught his expression and laughed lightly, shaking her head. "Lighten up, it’s not like I’m dying. I’ll visit too."

Her tone was softer than before, but the decision was final.

She gave him a small wave and slipped out the door, leaving the apartment a little too quiet behind her.

Jace stood there for a moment, the silence pressing in. It felt sudden, but she wasn’t wrong.

When she’d first shown up here, it hadn’t been with friendly intentions. Maybe this distance was exactly what she needed.

He exhaled through his nose and turned toward the kitchen.

Serai was still there, leaning against the counter with the TV humming faintly in the background. Her eyes followed him as he entered.

Jace gave her a small smile, trying to shift the mood. "It’s just me and you now."

She tilted her head, waiting.

"So," Jace said, pulling open a cabinet, "what do you want to eat?"

Jace nodded at her shrug and turned back toward the cabinets.

His body reminded him of the training session, a dull ache stretching through his arms and back. He let out a low groan as he reached for a pan.

Before he could brush it off, he felt a light touch on his shoulder. Serai’s hand rested there, cool and steady.

The ache that had been grinding into his muscles faded almost instantly, like it had never been there.

Jace froze, then glanced back at her. She met his eyes, calm and unbothered, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Ohh," he muttered, exhaling. "Forgot you can do that."

She tilted her head at him again, her disguise flickering faintly before steadying.

Jace gave a short laugh, rolling his shoulder experimentally. The ache really was gone. "Guess that saves me the ice packs."

He looked at her while pulling some ingredients onto the counter. "I should probably get you your own clothes soon."

[Already ahead of you,] Zin cut in. [I separated the accounts. One for your personal expenses, the other for pushing your goals. Funds won’t overlap.]

"Good," Jace muttered, cracking an egg into a pan. He glanced back at Serai. "So... how about you tell me about your people?"

Serai blinked at him, her lips moving slowly as if sorting through the words she’d been practicing.

"My... people," she began, her accent heavy. She paused, then spoke again, halting. "Areni... water... live... deep. Big... city... under ocean."

She gestured with her hands, fingers spreading outward like waves.

Zin translated smoother, layering over her broken words. [She says her kind, the Areni, are semi-aquatic. They live in sprawling cities beneath oceans on their homeworld. Structures grown from coral-like materials, energized by their ability to channel water currents and energy.]

Serai tried again, tapping her chest. "We... strong mind. Many... energies. Body... heal... quick." She frowned, as though frustrated, and switched back to her own language for a string of fluid tones.

[She’s explaining that her people are known for mental strength. They adapt to different forms of environment, heal better than most species. It makes them versatile...]