The late afternoon sun cast warm golden hues over the Emberheart estate as Irina led Astron down a side path that meandered away from the grand main mansion. Her fiery red hair shimmered in the sunlight, but her pace was brisk, and her posture carried an air of determination. Astron followed without a word, his calm demeanor a steady contrast to the quiet energy radiating from her.
Irina's heart beat faster as they neared their destination. This is it. All the planning, all the work—everything comes down to this week. She glanced at Astron, his sharp purple eyes scanning their surroundings with his usual composed expression. He probably doesn't realize how important this is to me… but that's fine.
