The air in Lianna's dorm room hung heavy.
The silence pressed against her like a physical weight, broken only by the ragged rhythm of her own sobs. Outside, the Watchful headquarters pulsed with subdued activity, hushed conversations, and the clatter of armor clinking against armor as people walked around.
Here, within the confines of her walls while the others went out to give Lianna some space, Lianna was alone with her sorrow.
Cynthia's image was still so fresh in her mind. The image mocked her.
[Lover,] Lianna reached out to her in her mind. [Just... Tell me one thing. I don't care if you have to use up some power, just do it. Okay?]
A moment passed.
... Alright.
Lianna took a deep breath.
[Could I really not have saved her? If you warned me, could we really not have done anything?]
Another second passed.
No.
Another message came.