Would you like a drink?

The music continued to sway the night around Dante and Velryna, who had finally found a quiet spot, a bench beneath the shade of an ancient tree with its roots intertwined around worn stones. They were far from the bustling center of the festival, where the stalls and lantern lights created a scene of joy and chaos. The vibrant rhythm of the celebration now seemed like a distant echo, as if the world around them had paused for a moment, allowing them both to just breathe.

Velryna sat in silence, observing the movement around them, while Dante looked at her with a gentle smile on his lips. Her expression was more relaxed than he'd seen in days, the weight of her worries seemingly set aside. She didn't need more words to understand what he was feeling.

"Thank you, Dante," Velryna said, her voice low but full of meaning.

He looked at her, surprised, his eyes full of curiosity. "For what?"