cascade | kotlc

28. Tiana at the Hall of Illumination

 Sophie let go of her hand eventually. She didn't care when.

Everyone's eyes were still closed, except for hers when she opened them. The array of bright green lines still connected them, tying them into a net, gentle pollen blowing in the wind.

"That was wonderful," she whispered to Calla.

Biana found herself longing for Sophie's hand, but she was slack as she leaned against the windowsill, the moonlark behind her shading her silhouette. Her mouth was slightly open, and her eyes were closed, her head swaying like she was dreaming good dreams.

The creature in the aquarium moved sluggishly as she pushed through the thick mist, gently putting her hands on everyone there. June's arms were extended sideways, as if she was wrapping her arms around someone's waist. Dex's dimpled grin stretched from ear to ear, his shoulder pumped upward, his ears twitching. Fitz was absentmindedly stroking June's back, his lips curving as she perched on top of him, her legs swinging slowly.

Mr. Forkle looked the most at rest. His head lolled against the fluffy armchair, his hair ruffled as he snored softly and rhythmically, like drums beating in the background. His body was limp. He seemed finally at rest, his hand covering his chest.

Biana left them there, alone with the green network. They deserved some rest after everything they've been through.

I'll find Tam, she decided. Maybe help him with his search.

And maybe, if we're alone in there... we could spend some time there, maybe. We'll deserve it.

Tam's eyebrows shot up in surprise as he trudged down the hallways, his hair disheveled, his silver bangs hanging before his eyes.

"Hi," he said nervously, rearranging his hair as Biana approached him, smiling slightly.

"Hello to you too," she said, wrapping an arm around his waist.

"Um. Where are the others?"

"Somewhere." She waved briskly down the hallway. "They might still be dreaming in Alden's office, I'm not sure. Oh- Sophie's developed a new ability."

"Really? She has four already. Was that not enough for the Black Swan? Or did they actually give her one of everything?"

"This one was apparently a genetic accident, though I don't really see how that works, you know?" She bent down and slipped off her heels, pulling out a pair of sturdy walking boots from her satchel and raising an eyebrow at Tam.

"Oh! Um. Uh." He spread his bangs to completely cover his eyes as he blushed red, kneeling down and helping her with her shoes.

"That took you a while," she remarked, letting Tam finish her shoelaces and helping him up.

"I'm not very good at this relationship stuff. You don't exactly see people dating in Exilium, do you? Anyways, the boots were a very good idea." He stepped back with a dramatic flourish, showing her the endless hallways. "I've been here for two hours already. Let's try again, maybe you'll find something I missed, who knows?"

They progressed down the hallways and into the intersecting corridors, checking every classroom and every dorm as the time ticked away. Still, the search felt warm. The cat in Biana purred contentedly every time Tam helped her down the stairs, or when he would turn away after she said something.

She started to nod off after an hour passed. They'd managed to completely search four floors in that time, and, god, the Silver Tower had 150 levels.

At least it wasn't Candleshade...