The night draped itself over the mountains like a deep velvet cloak, stars blinking through the darkness like scattered gemstones.
The cool air carried the scent of earth and distant rain, and the sound of running water filled the clearing where they had stopped to rest.
A crystal spring bubbled nearby, its surface shimmering faintly under the moonlight, reflecting the sky above like a silver mirror.
Elysia stood at the edge of the water, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. The faint glow of the spring cast a soft light across her features, illuminating the silver strands of her hair, making her look almost ethereal.
She wasn't even doing anything—just standing there, staring at the water with that quiet intensity of hers—but Malvoria couldn't seem to look away.
She had never been one for sentimentality, had never allowed herself the weakness of lingering on a moment simply because it felt like something worth remembering. But this—this was different.
