CHAPTER 52: THE ROOM WHERE THEY WAIT

The scent reached me before I stepped fully into the room - a golden warmth wafting in layers of butter and sweetness, curling around my senses like sunlight.

Elune stood beside the breakfast table, her apron dusted lightly with flour, placing a final croissant on a white porcelain plate. Four others rested on a silver tray, arranged like a small offering. Beside them, Elune’s homemade strawberry jam, pale honey, and freshly frothed milk in a blue ceramic cup. I hadn’t noticed the blue cup before. It matched the color of the sky in my dream.

"You’re right on time," she said, turning with a smile that could have belonged in any morning of my old life - if that life had ever truly existed.

"Why do I feel like I just came home from a long travel?" I murmured, stepping barefoot across the room. "And you remembered the jam."

"Of course," she said gently. "It’s hard to forget what matters."

Luc was already seated at the table, her presence quiet and soothing. She wore her immaculate black suit again, composed and sharp as ever. The only imperfection was that a strand of her silver hair had fallen over her left eye. She didn’t move to brush it away.

Good morning," I said. Though it had been so long, I felt closer to her now than I ever had before

Luc didn’t answer right away. Her gray eyes lifted to meet mine. The eyes gleamed with a muted smile, but I sensed a shade of fatigue in them. Not in body, but something deeper, older. Yet they held me there.

"You’re late," she finally said, her voice dry.

I blinked, and Elune laughed - a short, ringing sound as she placed the tray between us.

"Miss Roen needed a moment," she said, defending me with the air of an old friend. "Some mornings are quieter than others."

Luc’s lips quirked, just slightly.

"Indeed."

I sat at the head of the table, Luc on my left. Elune stood on my right side with her hands clasped in front of her - ready to serve and provide anything I’d ever need.

The first bite of croissant was pure joy. Crisp on the outside, soft in the middle. I hadn’t realized how deeply I had missed the small, grounding luxuries. For a moment, I allowed myself the indulgent sensation. The warmth. The sugar. The softness.

"I dreamt," I said.

Luc looked up. "I know."

"Did you... see it too?"

"I was in it."

"For real?"

"Perhaps I was. Or perhaps I wasn’t. Dreams are just dreams, Miss Roen."

I frowned, licking jam from my thumb. "I wish you could just talk straight sometimes..."

Luc smirked and Elune pulled a knowing smile.

It was as if we all saw something very special, shared an intimate secret, yet collectively decided to just treasure it in our hearts without ever verbalizing them, because sometimes words simply don’t do justice.

Elune cleared her throat delicately. "I believe you two have much to discuss. But forgive me, I must return to my duties."

"Thank you, Elune," I said sincerely.

As she gathered the tray’s empty plates and excused herself, I watched Luc. She was still watching me - not intensely, but openly, like someone re-reading her favorite book and finding new details she’d missed before.

"I don’t know what comes next," I admitted.

"You never did," she said.

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"An unpretentious truth."

The quiet stretched, but it didn’t feel heavy. Not like before. It was a silence with space inside it. The scent of coffee and croissant were all that was needed.

"Luc... I thought about something... or more like- something came to me after all that had happened," I eventually broke the silence.

Luc said nothing, just looking into my eyes.

"Everyone - Cassian, Vale, Zhen... they all wanted me to be somebody-" I continued.

Luc sat still, unmoved.

"Somebody that I was not."

Luc leaned forward, propped her elbow on the table and rested her jaw on her palm.

"And who do you want to be?"

I still didn’t have a clear answer in my mind. But something inside told me that I, Lin Roen, was never going to be the same again - not in a way that I lost myself, but in a way that I felt today was the first day of my life.

"Luc," I said, then hesitated. "You’ll stay, right?"

"Yes."

"You won’t disappear again?"

"No," she said firmly. "Not unless you ask me to."

I breathed in. Then nodded. That was enough for now.

A soft knock interrupted the moment. Cain entered quietly, dressed in full black again, though his collar was slightly crooked. It was comforting somehow - his imperfection made everything feel real. Abe followed from behind, broke into a smile as soon as he saw me, then enthusiastically overtook Cain and waved his hand.

I waved back.

"Miss Roen," he said, bowing. "I hope you are feeling better!"

"Thank you, Abe."

Then Cain cut in, his voice terse, but sounding warmer than usual.

"The Senior Council has convened. Your presence is requested at the Council Room."

Luc’s gaze flickered toward me.

Somehow the prospect of seeing the Senior Council didn’t feel as daunting as it did the first time.

"Will you join me?" I asked her.

Luc tilted her head, "Did I need an invitation?"

Her eyes told me that it was a silly question for me to ask - a reassuring gaze that confirmed she will be there wherever I go now, whenever I need her.

"Thank you, Luc."

I don’t know what came over me, but I reached out and brushed the strand of her silver hair that loosely hung over her left eye behind her ear.

Luc flinched.

"I... I’m sorry!" I instantly regretted and blushed.

"You... are forgiven," Luc whispered.

Cain twitched and immediately pretended to not have noticed, while Abe’s face was turning red trying to suppress a laughter.

"Miss Roen," Cain thankfully broke the awkward moment, more formal now. "They await your presence."

I rose, brushing crumbs from my lap. "Then let’s not keep them waiting."

Luc fell into step beside me without a sound. Together, we walked out of the room.

And for the first time, I wasn’t afraid of what waited beyond the door.