We Will Break Away Together.

She had felt the tension in Caedes' body, witnessed the unmistakable concern etching lines into his rugged face. As the next words formed in her throat, she could feel their weight pressing heavily upon her. It was a confession and a plea, wrapped in the fragile casing of uncertainty. This was it. They could no longer go on as they were without making some sort of public progression … or do a better job at hiding. But she didn’t want to have to hide. "It's my family," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "They need to meet you." The air around them seemed to thicken, heavy with unspoken emotions and the weight of the moment. She could feel every detail of Caedes' presence beside her, his warmth and strength offering a sense of comfort and protection amidst her own vulnerability.

A heavy wave of silence descended upon them, each word from her lips settling between them like glowing embers falling to the ground. The sounds of the wind gusting through the upper tunnels and the crackling of the dying fire seemed to grow louder in response, as if the very elements were reacting to her proclamation. It was as if the world had suddenly decided to hold its breath, waiting for the inevitable fallout of her revelation. “But I need to know what happened at Norad first.” With a light finish, she spoke, trying to break the tension that had thickened in the air. She thought back to what Avacyn had told her about what happened at Norad, and what she herself knew from her own experiences. Before she faced Caedes against the Matriarch of Elysium … or her father for that matter, she needed to ensure that they were on the same page so that she could stand by his side with confidence and clarity.

"Mariah Mendacium"