Charon’s eyes lingered on Jasmine as she approached, reading the weariness in her posture before she even spoke. Her aura, always vibrant with purpose and focus, seemed strained under the weight of her responsibilities. He knew that kind of tension, the constant need to be in control, to keep everything moving and in line. The city’s rush continued around them, but it felt distant here, where they stood. His presence subtly manipulated the flow of the moment, creating a space where the noise and pressure couldn’t quite reach. It wasn’t an escape, not completely, but a momentary break in the storm.

“You’ve been running on fumes, haven’t you?” Charon asked quietly, his voice carrying a calm that contrasted with the hurried energy around them. “Always moving, always making sure nothing falls apart. But there’s only so much one person can hold together before the weight starts to wear you down.” He stepped a little closer, just enough for his words to feel more personal, more direct. “You don’t need to keep pushing like this, Jasmine. Not right now. You’ve set everything in motion. You’ve done your part, and for the moment, that’s enough.”

He let his words settle, watching her with a careful gaze. Charon wasn’t here to fix her problems or offer grand solutions. He knew that wasn’t what she needed, not from him. What she needed was a chance to stop, if only for a little while, without feeling like the world would collapse without her constant attention. “You’re always thinking ahead, always trying to stay one step in front of the chaos. But right now, you don’t have to. The knights are in motion, the plans are already underway. Let them take the reins for a while.” His voice was steady, offering her something rare—permission to stop, to rest, even if just for a few moments.

Charon glanced down at Bruno for a moment, then back to Jasmine, noting how even her loyal companion seemed attuned to her unspoken exhaustion. “I can feel it in you, the strain. You don’t give yourself enough credit for how much you’ve already done. You’ve been leading, commanding, holding everything together. But even you need a moment to breathe, Jasmine. Even you need a break.” He wasn’t pushing her, wasn’t demanding anything. He was simply offering her a place to exist without the constant pressure of having to be in control.

He knew all too well how hard it could be to let go, even for a second. To stop meant to risk losing the grip you’ve fought so hard to maintain. But Charon also knew that no one—not even someone as strong as Jasmine—could keep running forever without burning out. “You’ve carried this burden for a long time, longer than most could handle. But right now, you don’t have to carry it alone. You’re not the only one fighting this fight. Your knights are with you, your team is with you. And for once, you can trust them to keep things moving while you take a moment for yourself.”

He let his gaze meet hers, the quiet intensity in his pale eyes grounding the words he spoke. “Tell me what’s on your mind, Jasmine. Whatever it is, I’m listening. No judgment, no expectations. Just talk, if that’s what you need. Or don’t. It’s your moment. But you deserve to have it.” He wasn’t here to push her toward any decision or action. He was simply offering her a break from the relentless pace she lived in, a moment to stop without the weight of the world pressing down on her. And in that brief pause, he hoped she would find some of the rest she so clearly needed.