Chapter 65
Chapter 65 A Handmade Stool
Lyra was filled with quiet surprise and delight.
It turned out a spirit animal’s personality didn’t always mirror its Sentinel’s perfectly.
This dhole was far more gentle and reserved.
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Lyra squeezed and rubbed the thick, soft fur on the dhole’s cheeks, completely unable to stop herself.
The dhole simply glanced sideways at her, letting her fuss over it without a single sound.
She was just about to praise how well-behaved it was when she noticed Lucian had vanished from the window.
Lyra frowned in confusion.
“I’m fine. Go on with your rounds p>
Lucian caught sight of what was happening through his spirit animal, his voice drifting out hoarsely from the back of the cell.
Lyra blinked doubtfully.
Was he really alright?
A moment later, Lucian’s smiling face reappeared at the window.
Aside from a faint pink flush spreading across his skin, he seemed perfectly normal.
Surely he wouldn’t hide it if he was feeling unwell.
Reassured, Lyra stood and headed for the next cell, the dhole padding quietly along behind her.
The second she turned away, Lucian stumbled unsteadily.
He pressed a hand hard against the wall to steady himself.
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A sharp, unclear smile tugged at his lips as his gaze drifted toward the neighboring cells.
It all made sense now.
He finally understood why Hadrien had specifically requested a week’s worth of self-check records from just three of them.
He also saw why Felix and Draven had been so willing to let their spirit animals linger close to Lyra.
So that was their secret.
Seriously? They were hiding something this good?
Annoyance flared in his chest, quickly followed by a sudden numbing tingle.
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Chapter 65-Hendmade Stanl
Finished
Lucian tilted his head back, barely stifling a low groan.
Down the hall, Lyra had reached Harlan’s cell window. She apologized quietly while gently petting the
dhole beside her.
Her fingers brushed slowly over the fluffy fur at the dhole’s nape again and again.
That soft, gentle motion felt as if it was falling directly on his own neck. A warm, electric tingle pooled at the base of his spine, spreading upward into a rush of dizzying pleasure.
Heat flooded Lucian’s cheeks. Glossy moisture gathered in his amber eyes, the corners of his gaze flushing red, giving him a delicate, vulnerable look.
He bit his rosy lower lip and desperately held himself back. Unfortunately, such a vivid, tempting picture had no one there to appreciate it.
“Why are you apologizing p>
Harlan’s hoarse voice sounded.
She stopped petting the dhole and picked up her notepad to write.
Lucian felt as if he had been granted release, his body collapsing softly to the floor.
“Last time, I said I would come chat with you, but because of my recklessness, Tbroke the promise. I feel sorry about that p>
After reading her words, Harlan shook his head slowly.
“It’s alright p>
Whether accidental or not, the fact that she’d wanted to talk to someone as dull as him was already a pleasant surprise.
Noticing she always knelt to talk with him, Harlan turned and walked deeper into his cell.
The familiar scraping sound of hard objects dragging across the floor echoed out.
Lyra leaned closer curiously.
In the dim cell, she caught sight of a long, thick tail trailing behind him.
“Here p>
Harlan returned shortly, holding a small folding wooden stool.
The wood was sanded perfectly smooth, and the seat was wrapped tightly with soft cloth padding to make it more comfortable.
But what Lyra noticed first were the countless fine scars crisscrossing his hands.
She pointed at his injuries, then at the stool, silently asking if he’d gotten hurt making it.
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Chapter 65-AtHandmade Stanl
Finished
“I haven’t done this in a long time. I’m out of practice,” Harlan said flatly.
Lyra frowned. Those cuts looked painful, even just to imagine.
She stared at Harlan with clear sympathy in her eyes.
“What’s wrong p>
His voice was slow and low, carrying the gentle warmth of someone older and thoughtful.
Lyra’s mood softened, and she wrote earnestly.
“I just feel really sorry. I didn’t even do what I promised you, and you still made me a little stool and got hurt so much for it.
“And at that time, it wasn’t even certain whether I could come back. Wouldn’t you have felt that all your effort was wasted p>
Harlan tilted his head slightly, still holding the stool out toward her.
“Sit down first p>
Lyra let out a bitter, helpless smile.
She couldn’t bring herself to sit on something he’d poured so much care and pain into making.
To her, a handcrafted gift like this deserved to be kept and cherished, not simply used.
The thought alone made her eyes sting.
This was the first thoughtful, handmade gift she had ever received in her entire life.
Harlan’s brows tightened at the faint shine of tears in her eyes.
“You don’t like it p>
Lyra shook her head fiercely.
“No, no. I love it!
“It’s just that this is the first time I’ve ever received a gift like this, so I’m very moved p>
Harlan looked confused.
“A gift?
“It’s just a stool for you to sit on p>
In his eyes, such a plain, rough piece of wood didn’t deserve to be called a gift at all.
Lyra held the small stool gently in her arms, breathing in its faint wooden scent like a precious treasure.
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Finished
Chapter 65-AHandmade Stool
“To me, this is a gift. I don’t want to sit on it. That would be letting down your thoughtfulness p>
Harlan fell silent.
He refused to let such a simple stool be treated as something precious.
“Sit. I’ll make you a proper gift later p>
Lyra shook her head reluctantly.
“It’s only a stool,” Harlan insisted gently.
Lyra shook her head again, stubborn as ever.
She wrote, “I’m only crouching for a while. I’m not tired p>
Harlan stared quietly at her unyielding expression.
Lyra met his gaze, and the two held each other’s eyes in a long, gentle standoff.
Lyra suddenly wrote a new question. “Where did you get the tools to cut and carve p>
Harlan lowered his gaze and fell quiet for a long moment.
“I took my bed apart p>
Lyra froze, falling into silence.
“Won’t sleeping on the floor be uncomfortable p>
“All surfaces are the same. I can sleep anywhere,” Harlan said.
Lyra pressed her lips together tightly.
“I’ll apply for a new bed for you tomorrow p>
Harlan nodded simply. “Alright p>
Lyra wrote again, “Do you like carving and woodworking p>
“It just passes the time,” Harlan replied.
Lyra wrote, “And the carving tools? Did you make them yourself, or did you apply for them before p>
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Feial Sentinefs Obey Only Her
Lucia Morh
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.