The room was dimly lit, shadows stretching across the walls as Esteria lay peacefully asleep, her breathing soft and rhythmic. Alariel stood at the edge of the bed, her hands trembling slightly. "We need to move now," she whispered, glancing at Selene, who sat cross-legged on the floor, staring into the darkness with wide, anxious eyes.
"It's too late," Celene murmured, her voice barely audible, as if the weight of her words pressed down on her chest. "If they find out… we'll all be exposed. We can't stay any longer."
Esteria shifted slightly in her sleep, her face serene, unaware of the turmoil unraveling around her. Alariel's gaze flickered back to her friend, the bond between them twisting painfully. "She's not part of this. She doesn't deserve this," Alariel said softly, her voice laced with guilt.
