The night air was cool, carrying the lingering scents of the marketplace—charred spices, warm bread, the faint traces of incense still smoldering somewhere in the distance.
The quiet settled over the village now, a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere from earlier. The soft glow of flickering lanterns lined the streets, casting golden halos against the cobblestone paths.
Malvoria exhaled slowly, watching as Elysia stretched her arms above her head, rolling her shoulders with a sigh.
"That was exhausting," Elysia muttered, her voice tinged with weariness, but also something softer, something satisfied.
Malvoria's gaze lingered on her for a beat too long. The way the dim light caught the silver of her hair, the way exhaustion didn't dull the sharpness of her violet eyes.
Before she could second-guess it, Malvoria spoke.
"Come with me."
Elysia blinked, lowering her arms. "What?"
Malvoria adjusted her stance, her expression unreadable. "Let me take you somewhere."
