Lily was a whirlwind of energy, rushing around the room, tugging at my hand to get me out of bed. I stretched lazily, feeling the weight of sleep still clinging to my body, but I could already tell there was no escaping her enthusiasm.
She was relentless when she wanted something, and right now, she wanted me awake.
"Alright, alright, I'm up!" I said, swinging my legs off the side of the bed and standing up. Lily giggled in triumph, satisfied with her victory.
I shuffled over to the bathroom, glancing at my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a mess, and dark circles under my eyes reminded me of how poorly I'd slept.
Thoughts of Ciara had haunted my dreams, flickering images that I couldn't shake, but I quickly brushed them aside. Today was a new day, and I had to focus on work.
After a quick shower, I felt more awake, the hot water washing away the remnants of sleep and the confusion from the night before.
I pulled on a comfortable work outfit dark slacks and a loose blouse and took a moment to admire my reflection. I looked… decent. Nothing spectacular, but presentable enough for the day ahead.
Lily poked her head into the bathroom as I brushed my hair. "Come on, you're so slow," she whined. "Breakfast is getting cold!"
"I'm coming!" I shot her a playful look in the mirror, trying to match her playful energy, though my thoughts were still sluggish.
As I headed downstairs, the familiar smell of breakfast wafted through the air eggs, toast, and something sweet, maybe pancakes.
My mother had already set the table, and my father was seated, engrossed in his morning paper as usual. Lily was already digging into her food, her small face lit up with excitement for the day ahead.
"Good morning, dear," my mother greeted me warmly, placing a plate of food in front of me.
"Morning," I replied, plopping into the chair. I picked up my fork and began to eat, the soft chatter of the family filling the space around me. For a moment, everything felt… normal. No drama, no tension, just a typical morning at home.
"Do you have a busy day ahead?" my father asked, briefly lowering his newspaper to look at me.
"Not really," I shrugged. "Leora's probably going to have me help with the usual stuff. Maybe go over some reports, check on a few things… nothing too exciting."
He nodded, going back to his paper, and I finished my breakfast in relative silence. But in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but notice the nagging absence of Ciara.
I hadn't seen her since the other day, and part of me was relieved dealing with Ciara and her complicated, sometimes frustrating, emotions could be exhausting but another part of me was curious. Where was she?
And why hadn't she shown up? Not that it mattered. I had told myself I needed space, and this was the perfect chance to take it.
After finishing breakfast, I grabbed my bag and keys, heading out to my car. The morning sun was bright, and the air had a crispness that hinted at the changing seasons.
I slipped into the driver's seat and turned on the engine, enjoying the quiet hum of the car as I drove to Leora's castle.
The drive was peaceful, almost soothing, with the windows down and the cool breeze running through my hair. I had my playlist on, some soft music to keep me company, but my mind kept wandering.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about Ciara. Her absence was gnawing at me in a way that felt ridiculous, and yet… I couldn't help but wonder if everything was okay.
By the time I reached Leora's castle, I had managed to push most of my thoughts aside. The tall, imposing structure loomed ahead, its stone walls bathed in sunlight.
The grounds were meticulously kept, and the familiar sight of the guards stationed at the entrance made me feel more at ease. This place was my sanctuary from the chaos of my personal life. Here, things were predictable. Routine.
I parked my car and made my way inside, exchanging polite greetings with some of the staff before heading to Leora's office. The grand halls were as quiet and elegant as ever, with soft rays of sunlight filtering through the tall windows, casting a serene glow over the polished floors.
When I entered the office, Leora was already at her desk, rifling through papers. She glanced up as I walked in and smiled warmly.
"Good morning, Aeliana," she greeted, her voice smooth and calm, as always. "How are you today?"
"Morning, Leora. I'm alright, just… ready for the day, I guess," I replied, offering a small smile as I set my bag down.
"Good. I have some reports for you to go over. Nothing too urgent, just a few details we need to double-check."
I nodded, sitting down at the desk across from her and getting straight to work. The morning passed by in a blur of paperwork and quiet conversations with Leora. It was, by all accounts, a perfectly normal day if a bit mundane.
At lunch, I found myself wandering the halls of the castle, my thoughts still circling back to Ciara.
It was strange not having her around, her presence always seemed to fill the room, whether with tension, humor, or something else entirely. But today, the castle felt oddly… empty without her.
As I passed by the training grounds, I half-expected to see her there, sparring with the soldiers or practicing her magic, but there was no sign of her. Just the usual hustle and bustle of the castle staff going about their business.
"Where is she?" I muttered under my breath, shaking my head at myself for even caring. I had no reason to.
Ciara could do whatever she wanted, and I was supposed to be focusing on my own life. I wasn't about to get wrapped up in her drama again.
Still, as I made my way back to Leora's office, I couldn't shake the strange feeling that something was off. I tried to ignore it, telling myself that it didn't matter. But the more I thought about it, the more uneasy I became.
The rest of the day dragged on in much the same way. I stayed busy, immersing myself in the work Leora had given me, but the castle felt unusually quiet, and my mind kept drifting back to Ciara's absence.
Even Leora seemed a bit more subdued than usual, though she didn't say anything about it.
By the time the afternoon rolled around, I was tired and ready for the day to be over. I gathered up my things, said goodbye to Leora, and headed for the exit.
As I stepped outside into the fading daylight, I let out a long breath, feeling the weight of the day settle on my shoulders. It had been an oddly… boring day. No excitement, no drama, just endless paperwork and routine tasks.
"Boring day," I muttered to myself as I climbed into my car, shaking my head. "Just a boring day."
I leaned back against the seat of my car, staring up at the fading sky. The quiet hum of the engine was the only sound breaking the silence, and I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of unease. Today had been uneventful, and yet, it left me restless. There had been no sign of Ciara all day. Usually, she'd show up at some point—either to tease, provoke, or simply make her presence known.
But today? Nothing.
I let out a frustrated sigh, tapping my fingers against the steering wheel. It wasn't like her to stay away this long, and though I tried to convince myself that I didn't care, I clearly did. The thought of her absence gnawed at me, an uncomfortable sensation I couldn't quite shake.
"Why do I care so much?" I muttered under my breath, as if saying it out loud would somehow make it easier to understand. It didn't.
I started the car, pulling out of the castle's parking area, and began the drive home. The streets were quiet, the sun sinking lower on the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over everything. The peaceful evening did little to calm the storm of thoughts swirling in my head.
As I pulled into my driveway, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong. Maybe it was just a boring day. Or maybe it was the eerie quiet that followed Ciara's absence. Either way, I was tired of thinking about it.
"Just let it go, Aeliana," I whispered to myself, stepping out of the car. But deep down, I knew it wouldn't be that easy.
I entered the house, kicking off my shoes by the door. The quiet inside felt even heavier now, as if it echoed the thoughts in my head. I shook my head, trying to clear it.
"Boring day," I muttered, heading upstairs. But my thoughts still lingered on Ciara.