"Mom!" Argider hurtled toward her mother, arms flung wide. She collided into Meloris with a fervent hug that was as uncharacteristic as it was bone-crushing.
For a fleeting moment, warmth and sentimentality bloomed. Then, Argider froze. Her arms went slack, and she stumbled back, her face blazing red.
This was unfamiliar territory. Public displays of affection? Between them? Absolutely not. Their relationship had always been a rickety bridge—strained but steadfast, creaking under the weight of both love and grudging reliance.
Meloris blinked, swaying slightly, her strength almost entirely spent. A faint smile tugged at her lips, though her sunken eyes betrayed her exhaustion. "Argider?" she rasped, her voice thin. "Why do you… look so different?" She coughed, the sound rattling in her chest. "Is that really you?"
