The soft golden hue of dawn spilled through the tall windows of Luna's bedroom as she quietly slipped out from under the covers. Kana still slept soundly, sprawled across the bed with one arm hugging a pillow and Milo curled up like a cinnamon roll near her feet, barely twitching an ear.
Luna smiled at the sight—peaceful, warm, domestic. She stretched, rolled her shoulders, tied her hair into a loose ponytail, and slipped into her running shoes.
The air was crisp and cool as she began her jog around the estate. The gravel path crunched under her feet as she ran past trimmed hedges and sun-kissed flowerbeds, pacing herself for three steady laps. Every inhale filled her chest with fresh air, every exhale eased something tense inside her.
With each stride, Luna felt her body wake up and her thoughts settle. She wasn't fast. She wasn't flawless. But she was showing up.
By the time she returned, the sun had risen higher, bathing the halls in gentle light. She wiped sweat from her forehead and stepped back into her room.
Kana was already awake, sitting cross-legged on the bed, brushing her hair lazily while grinning at her.
"Caught you," Kana teased, eyes twinkling. "I saw you running from the window. I knew you'd go back to your morning jogs."
Luna grabbed a towel and snorted. "I mean, juggling three part-time jobs and surviving on caffeine should count as a cardio-intensive workout."
"Sure, if you count stress and sleep deprivation as fitness metrics."
Luna tossed her towel at Kana, who dodged it with a giggle.
"Come on," Kana said, standing and stretching. "Let's grab breakfast before your dad eats all the pancakes."
In the dining room, the sweet scent of butter and maple syrup lingered in the air. Emmerich, still dressed in his morning casuals—a crisp shirt and loose trousers—was pouring coffee while glancing through a digital report.
He looked up as the girls entered and smiled warmly. "Just in time. I was about to start charging breakfast tax for every minute you're late."
"Unfair. I jogged," Luna muttered as she dropped into a chair. "That buys me two extra pancakes."
Kana raised her hand. "I was being emotionally supportive. That counts too."
Emmerich chuckled, pushing the pancake platter toward them. "Fair enough. Eat up, both of you."
After breakfast, Kana packed up to head home, giving Luna a quick hug and telling her to keep being awesome before playfully whispering something about "Edward dreams" that earned her a nudge.
With Kana off, Luna stood by the door with her father, preparing to go to her therapy session while Emmerich readied himself for a sudden summons to Arklight Renewables' headquarters.
"You sure you'll be okay?" he asked, adjusting the collar of his suit jacket.
"I'm fine, Dad. Besides, I have a date with Dr. Falne and a journal of emotional honesty," Luna replied with a smirk. "You go save the world with renewable energy."
"I'll try. And if I survive the meeting…" Emmerich leaned down and kissed her forehead, voice soft. "Have a good day, my brave girl."
"Only if you come back with snacks," Luna added, poking his chest. "The good stuff. Local, greasy, salty. No fancy imports."
He laughed. "Noted. Chips over caviar. I'll see you later, Luna."
As Emmerich stepped into his sleek car, Luna watched it pull away for a moment, then turned, straightened her shoulders, and headed to her therapy session with a quiet determination. The day was hers to face—bit by bit, breath by breath.
Luna sat curled slightly on the therapy couch, the soft cushions supporting her as she stared at the woven pattern of the rug beneath her shoes. Dr. Falne sat across from her in a relaxed posture, her voice calm and grounding as ever.
"Luna," she began gently, "what you experienced yesterday in the car… it was a response, not a failure. Your body remembered the fear, even if your mind was in the present."
Luna's fingers twisted around each other. "I thought I was past that. I felt so ridiculous afterward."
"No," Dr. Falne said firmly but kindly. "You are healing. It's only been a short time since the trauma, and healing isn't linear. What matters is—you pulled yourself back. You recognized it."
Luna blinked at that, her breath catching slightly in her throat.
"That's progress," the therapist added, leaning forward slightly. "Let's go over a few techniques to help you in those moments. They won't erase the fear, but they'll help you ground yourself."
She reached out and lightly tapped her own chest, just below the collarbone.
"This area—right here—is a grounding point. Gentle tapping, paired with breathwork, can help you focus on the present. Would you like to try it with me?"
Luna hesitated, then nodded.
"Okay, inhale… one… two… three," Dr. Falne guided. "Now exhale slowly… good. Now begin tapping, firm but gentle. Repeat after me: I am here. I am safe. This moment is new."
Luna mirrored her, tapping her chest in a steady rhythm, breathing with focus. The words came quiet at first, then grew more certain.
"Good," Dr. Falne smiled. "Keep this in your pocket for the next time. You're learning to walk through it rather than freeze in it."
After the session, Luna returned to her private study suite, her footsteps light, her mind slightly quieter. The warm, welcoming space was lit by the late afternoon sun filtering through the curtains.
On the desk, her new book—a thick fantasy novel from the boutique bookstore at the mall—called to her. With a small smile, Luna settled onto the reading chair and cracked it open.
It didn't take long for the world to pull her in. Tales of brave exiles, long-lost magic, and skyships filled her mind. Time slipped away unnoticed. She laughed aloud at witty dialogue, felt her throat tighten at betrayals, and traced the inked map on the inside cover with childlike wonder.
By the time she closed the book—its final page bittersweet and perfect—the sun had dipped beyond the horizon. The digital clock blinked: 7:12 PM.
Just as she stretched, her comm tablet buzzed. Her father's name lit the screen. She answered quickly.
"Dad?"
"Hey, sweetheart." Emmerich's voice was tired but warm. "I'm sorry. I won't make it back for dinner. The board meeting ran long and… there's still more to handle."
Luna's heart pinched, but she smiled for him.
"It's okay, Dad. Just… make sure you eat something, and try to get some rest, even if it's just a nap on the couch."
"You're the one telling me that now?" he chuckled.
"Someone has to. I learned it from the best."
When the call ended, Luna placed her tablet down and walked slowly to the dining area.
The table felt larger than usual, quieter. Her meal had already been prepared and placed in the warmer by the estate staff—rosemary roasted chicken, some vegetables, and a small bowl of soup.
For the first time since meeting her father, she ate alone. The sound of her utensils echoed just slightly too loud in the elegant stillness.
But still, she ate. Slowly. Mindfully. Remembering Dr. Falne's words.
She was healing.
Even in the quiet.
Even when it hurt.
And tomorrow, she'd rise again.
The dim blue light of dawn filtered through the panoramic windows of Emmerich's office atop the secured executive floor. He stood by the glass, one hand nursing a warm cup of coffee, the other swiping through encrypted messages on his sleek tablet.
A notification blinked to life—a direct message from Edward.
Emmerich raised a brow and opened it.
Edward Sola:
I've wrapped up the last of the raids. The major faction remnants tracking Lin have been either silenced or scattered.
But there's a problem. Some are deeply buried. Every time we catch a lead, the trail goes cold—burned or cut. Someone's protecting the roots.
I'll deliver the full report and intel in person. I'll be on my way back shortly.
Emmerich exhaled through his nose, eyes sharp. He set the tablet down and replied quickly.
Emmerich:
Come by the estate for dinner tomorrow. We'll go over everything in detail—security and privacy guaranteed.
Seconds later, Edward's face appeared on a secure video call request. Emmerich accepted with a tap, his expression unreadable.
Edward, ever composed yet subtly worn from the road, nodded respectfully.
"Thank you for the invitation, sir. I'll ensure everything is presented in full."
Emmerich narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I invited you for security reasons, Edward. Not to steal Luna's attention over steak."
Edward didn't flinch. Instead, he offered a small, polite smile that somehow made Emmerich's suspicion bristle further.
"It was never my intention to—"
"Hmm," Emmerich snorted, already ending the call with a flick of his finger.
The screen faded to black.
Edward sat back in his seat, the road stretched ahead of him, but the thought of the warm estate—of Luna—lingered heavier than any incoming report. His gloved fingers lightly drummed against the car door.
"Didn't think I'll be looking forward to going back home, but," he muttered under his breath, smiling softly to himself.
"I'm going back to where she is. That itself is worth looking forward to."