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The air in the lobby of the Rudenheischt Castle for Guests felt both still and charged, as though the space itself held its breath.
Encased in a barrier meant to keep their voices contained, the silence was absolute. Not even the faintest echo of the crackling hearth escaped, isolating the two figures seated within.
A faint sound broke the quiet— a pin drop, or perhaps a flicker of magic dissipating.
Amaranthe's reluctant gaze flickered away, her green eyes dimming as she exhaled slowly. She seemed resigned, as if Curtis's deliberate approach left her no choice but to engage.
"Isn't it a bit early for us to be contacting each other like this?" she asked, her voice tinged with fatigue and irritation.
Curtis Azul clicked his tongue softly, the faint sound reverberating through the unnatural stillness.
"What can I say? My presence wasn't exactly planned."
