The Return

Ten days.

It had been ten days since Arwan disappeared from the castle and Seraphina's life. And with each passing day, the weight of his absence only grew heavier.

There was an emptiness in her chest, full of gnawing pain that refused to leave her alone. Guilt clung to her like a shadow, even as she tried to push through it.

This morning was no different. She forced herself out of bed. Her limbs felt heavy as if they were made of stone. There was work to be done, decisions to be made, and people who relied on her. No matter how broken she felt inside, she couldn't let the city suffer because of her personal problems.

She had poured herself into work to distract from the pain, but now it felt like a hollow endeavor. She missed Arwan desperately.