Inside his room, Ethan sat on his bed and placed all the herbs he'd gotten from Ezekiel on the silk sheets.
The containers caught moonlight streaming through tall windows, their contents pulsing with accumulated power.
Alright. Let's do this.
His hand reached toward the first container—
A soft knock interrupted the moment.
His eyes moved toward the door before he placed the herbs back in his storage ring. The timing felt deliberate, as if someone had been waiting for this exact moment.
"Come in."
The door opened slowly. Tiana walked in, her head low, wrapped in a simple black nightgown that made her look younger, more vulnerable than her usual self.
"...Tiana..." He muttered, looking at her.
She's been crying again.
Her eyes were red-rimmed despite obvious attempts to hide the evidence. She moved slowly, each step carefully placed as if she might drop from sudden movement.
