The days following the joint training brought an unexpected change to Asteria. The Imperial Knights and the Black Ravens had started to get used to one another. At first, their interactions had been limited to training grounds and formal exchanges. Now, it was different. A Black Raven passing an Imperial Knight in the courtyard would receive a nod. A few words would be exchanged. Sometimes, they even stopped to talk. It was nothing extraordinary. But it was enough to make the two orders feel less like strangers. Kael noticed it without saying much. One afternoon, he stood near the training grounds with Darius and Gareth, watching several knights from both orders finish their exercises. — Looks like they're getting along, Gareth remarked. Darius crossed his arms. — Give it a few days. Someone will start an argument about whose armor looks better. Kael glanced at him. — That's surprisingly specific. — Experience. Gareth laughed. — You really think they'll get that competitive? — Knights are still knights. Kael looked toward the groups. The Imperial Knights were speaking with Rowan and Silas, apparently discussing differences between their formations. There was no hostility. Only curiosity. — It's a good thing, Kael said. Darius looked at him. — You're approving? — Don't make it sound so unusual. — It is unusual. Kael gave him a flat look. Darius smiled. — What? I'm just saying. Gareth shook his head. — Some things never change. Kael sighed. — Unfortunately. He left them a few minutes later. He needed some quiet. The gardens were one of the few places in Asteria where he could find it. Nyxara was already there. She had taken her smaller form and was lying beneath one of the large trees, her dark fur almost blending into the shade. Her red eyes opened when Kael approached. — You knew I was coming. Nyxara lifted her head. Kael sat down beside her. She immediately moved closer. He rested one hand against her neck. — You're getting used to this place. Nyxara gave a quiet sound that was almost a growl. Kael raised an eyebrow. — I suppose that's your way of saying yes. A voice came from behind him. — You're talking to her again. Kael didn't even turn around. — You're late. Darius walked into the garden. — I had work to do. — That's what you always say. — Because it's usually true. Darius sat down on the other side of Nyxara. The creature looked at him. Darius smiled. — Hello. Nyxara stared at him. He reached out and gently scratched behind one of her ears. She allowed it. — See? She likes me. Kael looked at him. — She tolerates you. — That's basically affection. Nyxara slowly stood. Darius blinked. — Wait. She walked past him and went straight to Kael. Kael looked up as she rested her head against his shoulder. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Darius stared. Then he started laughing. Kael looked at him. — What's so funny? — Nothing. Darius laughed harder. — You're just impossible. Kael tried to keep a serious expression. He failed. A small smile appeared on his face. Darius noticed immediately. — There it is. — What? — The smile. Kael's expression returned to normal. — You imagined it. — I definitely didn't. Nyxara looked between them as if she were quietly judging both of them. Darius pointed at her. — Even she agrees with me. Kael sighed. — You're both annoying. That only made Darius laugh again. Neither of them noticed the group approaching from the other side of the garden. Captain Armand Caelis had been walking with two Imperial Knights when they slowed down. One of them looked toward the tree. — Captain. Armand followed his gaze. He stopped. At first, he recognized Kael. Then Darius. Then Nyxara. He had seen the creature before, but never quite like this. The legendary Nocterys was lying calmly beside Kael. Kael was smiling. Darius was laughing. The atmosphere was so relaxed that it almost seemed impossible that they were looking at the same people who had stood on the training grounds only days earlier. One of the Imperial Knights whispered: — Is that Patriarch Veyron? Armand nodded. — Yes. — He looks… different. Armand didn't answer immediately. He watched Kael for another few seconds. He had seen him during the joint training. Calm. Precise. Controlled. But this was something else. Kael looked younger. Not weak. Not careless. Just… young. Darius said something that made him smile again. Armand finally understood something. The rumors surrounding House Veyron only showed one side of its patriarch. — Should we leave? one of the knights asked. Armand considered it. Then he noticed Darius looking in their direction. Too late. Darius raised a hand. — Captain Caelis. Armand sighed quietly. — We've been noticed. They approached. Kael looked up. His expression had already returned to its usual calm. — Captain. Armand inclined his head. — Patriarch Veyron. Darius smirked. — You can stop looking so surprised. Armand glanced at him. — I wasn't aware I was making a face. — You were. Kael looked at Darius. — Don't embarrass our guests. — I'm welcoming them. Armand laughed quietly. — It's fine. His eyes moved toward Nyxara. She was watching him. Not aggressively. But attentively. Her red eyes remained fixed on him. Armand slowly extended a hand. Nyxara sniffed the air. Then she looked at Kael. Kael gave a small nod. Only then did she relax. Armand lowered his hand. — I suppose I've been accepted. Darius smiled. — Don't get too confident. Nyxara moved closer to Kael again. Armand shook his head. — I see. One of the Imperial Knights smiled. — She's clearly selective. Kael glanced at Nyxara. — Very. Darius added: — She likes Lysandra. Kael looked at him. — Why are you telling everyone? — It's useful information. Armand raised an eyebrow. — Lysandra? Kael ignored him. Darius laughed. — Don't worry. He'll deny everything. — I have nothing to deny. — Sure. Armand smiled. He had seen enough. The Black Ravens respected Kael. But Darius wasn't simply one of his subordinates. There was something much older between them. Something closer to family. Armand finally understood why Darius spoke to Kael so casually. And why Kael allowed it. It wasn't disrespect. It was trust. A few more Imperial Knights eventually joined them. The conversation became less formal. They discussed the academy, the upcoming imperial visit, and the differences between their orders. At some point, one of the Imperial Knights asked: — Captain, I thought the Patriarch Veyron was supposed to be difficult to approach. Kael heard him. — I can still be difficult. Darius immediately laughed. — He's right. Armand shook his head. — After today, I'm beginning to think I had an incomplete picture of you. Kael looked at him. — Probably. Armand smiled. — You're not quite what the rumors describe. Kael was silent for a moment. Then he answered simply: — Rumors rarely are. The group continued walking through the gardens. The distance between the two orders seemed smaller than it had been before. Imperial Knights began greeting Black Ravens naturally. Black Ravens returned the greetings. Nothing had officially changed. There had been no treaty. No ceremony. No grand announcement. But something had begun. A simple familiarity. A mutual respect. And for Armand, there was one thing he understood now. Kael Veyron wasn't always the cold, distant patriarch people described. He could laugh. He could tease Darius. He could sit quietly beside a creature that could terrify almost anyone else. He could lower his guard. But that wasn't the only side of him. Armand would learn that soon enough. Because behind the relaxed young man in the garden was someone who could become very different the moment his people were threatened. And Armand had a feeling that, sooner or later, he would see that side too.

Another Facet