The silence of the hideout was something familiar yet unsettling. Accompanied with darkness and knowledge that he has to tell Maelle the truth it was heavy. Even if he knew he’d get the greatest secret off his chest, thogh it was now only for that one person.

It was the most important person who should know about the whole mess he has gotten himself into.

Maelle was near the entrance, covered with quilt but he saw her uniform when she pretended to turn in her sleep.

„I know you’re not sleeping” he whispered as quiet as possible. „You were right. We need to talk” the last words were enough for Maelle to blow her cover and open her eyes.

She looked at him, bits of anger still lingering in her stare.

„But truth only” she got up quietly and followed the engineer to his makeshift workshop.

Before Maelle could open her mouth to get her answers Gustave cut in.

„How could you leave on your own? You could get hurt!” he was trying to keep his voice low but now it was a really loud whisper before turning into quieter one once he realized. „You know the dang…”

„Dangers, yes. Now I think we’re here to address your disappearances, no?” she shot him a deadly glare.

„Fine. Just… don’t do that again”

„Only if you don’t”

Gustave only sighed.

„So… I’m not leaving” he assured the girl first. „But there’s something…”

„About Verso, right?”

Gustave froze.

Then blushed.

He didn’t expect his love’s name to be brought so quickly, but here he was with truth laid bare.

Maelle looked at the engineer unsure, then understood that the blush was not the work of her imagination.

„Wait… you mean…” she sat beside him.

Then giggled.

„So the two of you… seriously?” her voice would be inaudible to anyone outside the room.

Gustave hid his face in his hands.

„I don’t know how that happened either” he dared to look up and only saw a grin slowly turning into a sad look.

„You do reali…”

„Sciel already told me, I know”

She seemed to give the whole situation a good thought for a moment.

Her brother was in love.

With a human.

Maelle never heard such story, they were all taught to fear humans on sight. Run away.

Not run to them.

She didn’t know how to react properly after the initial laughter. She was not prepared for such scenario.

„I… I’d like to wish you well, but it’s not going to work” she wrapped her thin arms around him as a comforting gesture.

„I know” his whisper carried more pain than he should let show in front of someone entrusted to his care, but he just couldn’t.

He wanted to be with Verso.