Divided

Goodbye, dear

A/N: This was interesting to write..

Caterina's POV

Zythyn swoops into my room, his black feathers gleaming in the dim light. He lands gracefully on my desk, his claws clicking softly on the wood. I stretch both my hands out in front of him, and with a tilt of his head, he opens his beak, offering me the letter with a soft caw.

"Gra tou, Zythyn," (thank you) I murmur, reaching for the paper. The bird gives a sharp cry in response, flapping his wings once as he hops back from the desk. His feathers rustle gently.

Ajia, sitting beside me on my bed, watches with wide eyes. "So, Xander sends you letters?" she asks, her voice laced with curiosity.

I smile, feeling warmth spreading through me. "Yes, he does," I reply, my fingers brushing over the folded paper in my hands. There's a flutter in my chest at the thought of him.

Ajia's eyes practically sparkle. "Wow... so it really is official," she says, her excitement bubbling through her words.

I laugh softly, the sound escaping me before I can help it, and carefully unfold the letter. The delicate parchment crinkles under my fingers as I begin to read

Dearest Caterina,
Each day without you feels like an eternity, and yet I find comfort in the thought that soon our paths will cross again. I carry the luck string you gave me, wrapped around my wrist, as a reminder of you—your care and your kindness. It has become my talisman, a symbol of your presence even when you're not near.

Until we are together once more, know that my thoughts are with you, now and always.

Yours, Xander

A soft sigh escapes me as I slowly fold the letter back to its original form, pressing the creases with my fingertips.

Ajia looks at me, her grin widening. "Aw, Cat! Your face is red!" She claps her hands, giggling as she teases me.

I bury my face in my hands, a laugh escaping through my fingers. "You're impossible," I mutter, my heart racing, but I can't help the smile that stretches across my face.

Zythyn flaps his wings and flies away, heading back to Xander. I watch him disappear into the sky, a soft smile tugging at my lips.

"I have a great idea! We can go to the forest and get some flowers!" Ajia exclaims, her voice bright with excitement. I pause, thinking for a moment.

"Oh yeah, I can give them to Zythyn when he drops by again," I say, smiling at the thought.

Ajia doesn't waste any time. "Come on, come on!" she says, already tugging me toward the door.

We hurry down the stairs, but before we can reach the castle entrance, we're stopped by Tzan's voice.

"Ajia, where are you going?" he asks, stepping into view with a curious but cautious look.

Ajia stops in her tracks, visibly annoyed. "Agh, Tzan..." she groans, rolling her eyes. "I'm just going to the forest for some flowers," she says, her tone dripping with impatience.

Third POV

Tzan has never liked the idea of his younger twin sister going anywhere alone. From the moment they were old enough to venture beyond the safety of their home, Tzan always felt an overwhelming need to protect her. Whether it was from the world or from herself, he couldn't help but worry.

After his conversation with Alistair, his concerns had only deepened. The threat of Cadenza's attacks loomed over him, always lingering in the background. He knew it was only a matter of time before danger would come knocking at their door. And the thought of Ajia going out on her own, even for something as harmless as flowers, was enough to set his nerves on edge.