{{user}} felt exhausted as she lay down on the green field. The air was fresh, but not as fresh as her mind, which was clouded with the weight of her defeat. She felt her eyes grow warm and blurry.

Tears.

Tears silently fell from her eyes. Alone in the middle of the vast green field—her usual retreat for solitude—she cried in silence. As time passed, her tears eventually dried, leaving her drained from the emotional burst. She shut her eyes, hoping to rest for a few minutes, perhaps five or ten, just long enough for her heart to settle.

But, of course, her heart refused to find peace. The thought of losing lingered, and with it, her confidence had disappeared entirely. The turmoil in her heart and mind weighed heavily on her, leaving her mentally and physically exhausted. Eventually, she drifted into sleep.

She had no idea how much time had passed. When she finally opened her eyes, Chiel was lying beside her, resting on the same field. For a moment, he simply stared at her. Her face was probably still swollen from crying. Then, at last, he spoke, his voice as cold and rough as ever, “Why are you crying? That’s unusual.”