Chapter 115

The following day.

"Aisha?"

"Kyle! We're meeting in the morning today! I'm off to magic lessons at the palace again!"

Kyle saw Aisha and went rigid all over again.

The white dress she was wearing today — it suited her in a way that was somehow especially striking.

Her hair in two arrow-sharp bunches that swayed as she came running toward him.

Her bright smile, warm enough to melt the white snow of the North.

"See you later, Kyle!"

"……"

He couldn't say a single word for the entire time it took her to vanish into the portal, waving.

The phantom feathers were back, working their way over every inch of him.

His heart was pounding like something had gone badly wrong with it —

Is it broken?

Kyle stared blankly down at his own chest.

It wasn't her breath. Something was genuinely wrong with him. There was something off…