I received a message from Veritas, asking me to meet her alone in the academy's garden. Curious and slightly nervous, I agreed and headed to the designated location. As I approached the lush, tranquil garden, I spotted Veritas standing beside a small pond, surrounded by blooming flowers. Her gentle presence seemed to blend seamlessly with the serene atmosphere.

"Hey, Veritas," I called out softly, not wanting to disturb the peaceful setting.

Veritas turned to face me, her eyes warm and welcoming. "Hello, Kard. Thanks for coming. I hope you don't mind the somewhat secretive nature of this meeting." 

Kard smiled, shaking his head. "Not at all. So, what's up?" 

Veritas hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "First of all, I wanted to congratulate you and your team on your victory in the Summer Games. You all did an outstanding job."

I grinned, feeling a slight blush creeping up my cheeks. "Thank you, Veritas. Your team put up a great fight too."

Veritas nodded appreciatively. "I also wanted to talk to you about something more personal," she admitted, her gaze dropping to the ground. My heart began to race, unsure of what Veritas was about to reveal. 

"Sure, what is it?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. 

Taking another deep breath, Veritas looked me in the eyes she spoke: "Kard, I just want to tell you that I...I..." Veritas stammered at the last second.

My heart pounded in my chest, anticipating what Veritas was about to say. The air between us seemed to grow heavy with tension, and the once tranquil atmosphere of the garden was now charged with emotion.

"I... I just wanted to say that I admire your strength and determination," Veritas finally said, her gaze faltering as she averted her eyes. "You've shown great leadership and compassion towards your team, and... I think that's something to be proud of."

I could sense that there was something more she wanted to say, but I decided not to push her. Instead, I simply smiled and replied, "Thank you, Veritas. That means a lot coming from you. You've always been a great role model for everyone at the academy."

Veritas smiled softly, seeming to relax a little. "I appreciate your kind words, Kard. And I hope we can continue to support and learn from each other."

"I hope so too," I agreed, feeling a strange mix of relief and disappointment at her incomplete statement.

As Veritas turned to leave, she paused for a moment and glanced back at me. "Oh, before I forget, I wanted to let you know why Amare didn't attend the awards ceremony," she said, her expression somber.

I furrowed my brow, curious about the reason for Amare's absence. "Yeah, I noticed she wasn't there. Is everything alright?"

Veritas sighed, choosing her words carefully. "Well, Amare is... having a difficult time accepting the outcome of the Summer Games. She's not used to being defeated, especially by humans. I suppose you could say that she's struggling with her pride."

I nodded, understanding her explanation. "I see. It must be tough for her."

"Yes, it is," Veritas agreed. "However, I believe this experience will help her grow and learn to be more humble. Sometimes, facing defeat is an important part of personal growth."

I couldn't help but admire Veritas' empathetic and mature perspective. "You're right. Thanks for explaining, Veritas."

She smiled gently. "You're welcome, Kard. Take care, and I'll see you around the academy."

We stood there for a few more moments, the peaceful sounds of the garden filling the silence between us. Eventually, Veritas bid me farewell, and I watched her walk away, her graceful figure slowly disappearing among the flowers.

As I left the garden, I couldn't help but wonder what Veritas had truly wanted to say. The memory of her nervous, stuttering confession lingered in my mind, igniting a flicker of hope that perhaps there was more to our relationship than I had previously realized.

Q: Did you enjoy the book? ;^)