Chapter 68

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The soldiers gathered around Aiko, their confusion palpable. "What happened?" one asked, his voice edged with concern.

Aiko stood in silence, her thoughts a swirl of frustration and guilt. She didn't know how to explain. The rage, the pain—everything had erupted in that single moment, and now it all felt wrong.

A male voice called out from behind her, "Hey, Aiko, are you okay?"

Aiko turned slightly, her voice stiff as she replied dismissively, "I'm fine..."

But her expression didn't match her words. Her mind was elsewhere, replaying the brief encounter with Ren over and over, the unanswered questions, the hurt, the confusion.

As if on cue, Miyako appeared, her footsteps hurried as she jogged toward the group. "Damn, I was too late," she said, frustration clear in her tone.

Aiko sighed deeply, still standing in place. "Sorry... it was my fault. I got too carried away... I just attacked him." Her words hung in the air, laden with remorse.

Miyako's gaze softened as she approached, offering Aiko a comforting look. "He probably won't come here again... you just had the perfect chance to lure him in." She paused, then continued, "You were too quick to act. It's fine, Aiko."

But Aiko didn't seem to hear the reassurance. Her head drooped slightly, her thoughts sinking into a well of sadness. "I'm sorry..." she muttered again, this time with a heaviness that went deeper than the words.

Miyako noticed the shift in her friend's demeanor and stepped closer, her voice gentle. "It's fine... You should get some sleep." She placed a hand on Aiko's shoulder, a brief but comforting touch before she turned and walked away towards the castle.

Aiko stood there a moment longer, lost in the weight of her own thoughts. The soldiers around her resumed their posts, the tension dissipating slightly as they returned to their duties, though Aiko's mind stayed clouded with the recent events.

Meanwhile, inside the castle,  with tousled brown hair, sat in the shared dormitory. His eyes widened as he heard a few whispers from passing servants. "Wait, Ren came?" he asked aloud, not fully grasping the gravity of the situation.

Aiko, who had just entered the room, paused as Quinn's words reached her. She exhaled sharply, tiredly, and shook her head. "I'd rather not talk about it now, Quinn."

Quinn, usually curious and quick to ask questions, immediately noticed Aiko's mood. Her usual stoic demeanor was replaced with a quiet sadness, something deeper than what he was used to seeing.

Deciding it was best not to press her, Quinn simply nodded, his eyes filled with concern but he said nothing more. He could see the weight on her shoulders and knew now wasn't the time for questions.

Aiko moved toward her bed and sat down, staring blankly at the floor. Quinn sat at his own bed across the room, trying his best to give Aiko the space she needed.

Outside the window, the moonlight bathed the castle grounds in a soft glow, but inside, there was a silence that seemed far too loud. Aiko, lost in her thoughts, didn't speak again. Neither did Quinn.

Ren stood at the edge of the river, his reflection a distorted blur in the flowing water. The cool night air did little to quell the raging storm inside him. "Damn these soldiers..." he muttered under his breath, the memory of the close encounter with Aiko still fresh in his mind.

His thoughts spiraled as a voice from the past echoed in his mind: "You are cursed to be alone..." Ren shook his head, trying to rid himself of the intrusive memory. It had been years since he'd heard those words, spoken by someone he had once considered an ally. But now, they came back, lingering like a ghost.

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