As the castle loomed on the horizon, a massive silhouette against the fading light of the evening, a strange mix of emotions churned within me.
The day had been blissful an escape from everything that had been weighing me down but now, as we approached the familiar walls, that bliss began to feel distant, like a dream fading upon waking.
Seraphina and I had traveled back in comfortable silence, the kind that spoke of mutual understanding and unspoken words.
Her presence beside me was reassuring, a steadying force in the midst of my swirling thoughts. Yet, despite her calming influence, an uneasy feeling gnawed at the edges of my mind.
The castle, our home for so long, felt different now. Its stone walls, usually so imposing and strong, seemed almost oppressive.
