Aurora couldn't shake the nagging feeling about Azrael's odd behavior. She had never seen him act this way before; usually, he teased her and tried to get on her nerves, but never had he shown such frustration. Pushing it to the back of her mind, she found herself standing in front of Mary's cottage, clutching a basket in her hand as she gently knocked on the door.
Seconds later, Mary opened the door. Dressed in simple clothes compared to Aurora's attire, her hair was up in a scattered bun with two loose strands in front. Mary's expression shifted from thinly veiled disdain to one of kindness and warmth as she recognized Aurora. A wide smile graced Mary's face, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Aurora!" she exclaimed excitedly, as if she wasn't expecting her. "Come in, come in!" Mary ushered Aurora inside the cozy cottage.
