As the last sunlight began to set behind the distant mountains, Deon was already on his way to the back garden. Vierenna hadn't specified the exact meeting place, but it was obvious. What else could it be besides the small lake that took the garden's center?
Hello, you've finally found your way here—
The same voice reached Deon's ears as he entered the lake's vicinity. He took a quick glance at the letters starting to form on its surface but swiftly returned his focus to Vierenna, who sat on the wooden bench.
Her eyes were closed, but she opened them the moment Deon arrived. A smile formed on her beautiful face.
"Good evening, baby brother."
She greeted him cheerfully, motioning for him to come and sit beside her.
Deon reluctantly agreed and moved to sit next to her.
"Aren't you going to say good evening to me?"
She looked at him closely, her eyes open in curiosity.
"Good evening."
Deon was forced to answer, but he kept it brief. However, Vierenna didn't seem like she would let him off easily.
"Good evening, what?"
She leaned closer to his face, as if searching in his eyes for what was missing.
Deon remained calm under Vierenna's strange behavior. He thought carefully about how to respond before speaking.
"Good evening... V."
Vierenna didn't say anything for a while, but she tilted her head slightly to the side in what seemed like confusion.
"V!... You haven't called me that since we were kids."
She leaned back on the bench comfortably, her eyes closed. But Deon was far from relaxed like her — a shiver ran through his entire body from the sense of danger he felt.
'It's time!'
"Come to think of it, in the past few days, you haven't called me by how you always used to. You probably haven't used my name at all... Strange, don't you think?"
Vierenna returned her gaze to him — this time, her face was dangerously close to his, their foreheads nearly touching. By some miracle, Deon managed to keep his composure until Vierenna leaned back again, though her eyes remained on him.
"Many strange things have happened to me in the past few days. But if you want a new name, I'll assign you one."
Deon replied with a bit of hidden honesty.
Vierenna chuckled softly, as if she appreciated the truth in his words.
"No, I wouldn't want a name from you."
Deon stopped himself from flinching at the clear implication in Vierenna's words, but he broke eye contact and refused to respond. His eyes fell on the lake with its colorful stones.
Vierenna averted her eyes from him as well, looking at the lake in turn. A faint smile played on her lips, but it quickly disappeared.
All of this escaped Deon's notice — his thoughts were elsewhere.
"What does this place mean to you?"
Vierenna's voice reached Deon's ears again. He didn't turn to look at her, but he could feel her gaze on him.
He considered how to answer. What did this place mean to him?
It didn't take much thought before he turned toward Vierenna. Her obsidian eyes burned with an ethereal light she didn't bother hiding. A faint smile formed on his face.
"A truth I cannot deny."
That was Deon's answer — and it was the truth of what this place meant to him. He might think he'd been transported to his novel's world, and that was true on the surface. But the truth was deeper. He couldn't bear to think that way anymore.
This was a real world. And if he wasn't serious with himself, it would be his end.
Deon had learned that the hard way. He had treated Vierenna only as a character of his creation — not as a real person. And look where that had led him. If he had been more cautious, more serious, more observant, he would have seen the truth of his situation more clearly. He had focused solely on himself as the only important person — everyone else as side characters without purpose.
And how wrong he had been.
If Deon survived today, he wouldn't make such mistakes again — that was his promise to himself.
"A truth you cannot deny? I didn't expect that answer. But I don't know you as well as I thought I did, huh? Care to elaborate?"
Deon remained calm under the hidden meanings Vierenna threw in her words, but he wouldn't answer that question.
"Just as there is much I don't know about you... there's much you don't know about me. But before answering your question, it's your turn. What does this place mean to you?"
Vierenna smiled playfully, clapping her hands together.
"Are you trying to create an air of mystery around yourself?"
Deon didn't answer her question — his expression made it clear he wouldn't speak until she answered first.
Vierenna rolled her eyes dramatically and punched him lightly on the shoulder in mock annoyance.
"Fine, Mister Mysterious. I'll answer since you're so curious."
She took a deep breath, and her expression grew serious.
"This place... is my identity. It means myself, my mother... and my baby brother. And I don't want to lose any more parts of myself."
Her words were clear and purposeful.
But instead of fear, Deon felt only pity for the girl.
He opened his mouth to say something — but stopped himself. That would be a terrible mistake on his part if he tried to reassure her.
Silence settled over the lake's surroundings — Deon with his thoughts, and Vierenna with hers, though her eyes never left him.
Deon felt uncomfortable and decided to start another conversation.
"What does mother mean to you?"
A flicker of confusion passed through Vierenna's eyes, but it quickly shifted to curiosity.
"Are you trying to change the subject? Don't want to explain your words?"
Deon looked directly into her eyes, silently. His faint nod gave Vierenna the answer she didn't want.
She pouted but didn't press further.
"You asked what mother means to me... My mother was my freedom — and still is, in a way."
Vierenna leaned closer to him again and returned the question with a serious expression.
"Your turn?"
Deon didn't think much before answering.
"The voice in my head."
Vierenna's frown deepened — she looked unsatisfied and voiced her displeasure.
"That's not fair. Why are you being all cryptic and serious? Are you doing this on purpose?"
"It's the truth."
Deon's neutral expression emphasized the honesty in his words.
"I know that — I can feel the truth in them. But the meaning could be anything. Tell me what it means."
Deon leaned back slightly — her face was too close. He couldn't ignore that she was pushing harder than usual.
"You think too much. The meaning is how you hear it."
Vierenna stared at him for a few long seconds before her serious expression melted into one of defeat.
"Hmph... fine."
She leaned back on the bench in relaxed comfort.
"If you say so."
Deon nodded to himself and returned his gaze to the lake, in silence.
This silence lasted for a long time — Vierenna with her private thoughts and internal struggles, and Deon with his own. They both knew the surface of each other's thoughts, but neither spoke.
For now, at least.
After half an hour, the sun had fully set, and night blanketed the world in darkness.
Deon rose from the bench and turned to Vierenna, who lazily glanced at him from her slouched position. Her way of sitting was ridiculous — Lazy like boiled spaghetti.
Deon kept his expression neutral by sheer willpower and addressed her formally.
"I'll be heading back to my room now. As you said, I didn't train this morning — I'll try to make up for it before bed. I'll see you later. Good night."
Vierenna seemed too lazy to nod, so as Deon turned his back to her, she replied.
"See you soon, Mister Mysterious."
With steady steps, Deon walked out of her sight.