— Lyaris... is... everything okay? — asked Vayrënna, startled by Lyaris's sudden change in mood.
That serious expression was something all of them had seen very few times on her face.
— Dravyn... answer me — she repeated, with a voice as firm as steel.
— Agh... I-I... — I tried to respond, feeling the weight of fear clogging my throat. For some reason, I trembled just imagining what could happen if I admitted that I had used another crystal, even after her prohibition.
— Sigh... I'll ask one last time — she said, now with her eyes glowing dangerously, as if warning that if I lied or hid the truth, fainting would be the least of my problems that night.
— Did you use this crystal again?
— Tsk... I... yes, I used another crystal to make the furnace — I admitted, after a few tense seconds of silence. Each word felt like it weighed a ton.
I lowered my head, closed my eyes, and prepared for the inevitable scolding.
