For the First Time

The mansion felt unusually tense as night fell, its grand halls quieter than usual. The dining room, typically filled with lively chatter or at least a semblance of camaraderie, was a study in discomfort.

The long wooden table stretched between them like a silent battleground, with plates of untouched food sitting in front of everyone.

Avilyn sat next to Aluxio, her face carefully neutral, though her tightly clenched hands betrayed her inner turmoil. Lilith was on the other side of Aluxio, her gaze occasionally drifting to him but quickly averting.

The resemblance was undeniable now that they were seated together—the vibrant blue hair, the sharp features, even the way they carried themselves. It was as if Lilith were staring at a version of herself she had never wanted to know existed.

Her heterochromatic eyes—one a striking blue, the other a vivid green—seemed to glow faintly in the dim candlelight.