"A-Aether... H-Hi..." Xara stuttered, her voice barely a whisper as she awkwardly waved her hand, lowering her face.
Aether, without a word, gently patted his side, silently inviting her to sit beside him.
Xara hesitated, clutching the hem of her dress nervously, before stepping away from the tree she had been hiding behind. She walked toward him slowly, her heart pounding, but instead of sitting, she stood behind him, uncertain and trembling.
Aether didn't turn around. His eyes were lost in the sight of the orange sky, glowing warmly as if the sun drifted toward the horizon.
It was a breathtaking view — the entire territory of Frostblade sprawled below them, the mansion nestled amid the land like a precious gem. Yet now, a cascade of crimson petals floated above it all, painting the air with strokes of red, as if an unseen artist had spilt vibrant ink across the world.
He could see everything... and yet his gaze remained soft, almost wistful.
