Shadows of Betrayal

(Recap)

The late afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows of the university library, casting long shadows across the rows of books. Rio and Erica sat together at a secluded table, their heads bent close as they whispered about their next steps. The weight of their responsibilities hung heavy between them, but so did the unspoken understanding of what they meant to each other. Their engagement had been a quiet joy amid the storm, a secret they held close as they continued their fight against the Echoes of Shadows.

(Rio, glancing around to ensure they were alone) "We need to be careful, Erica. The Echoes are still out there, and I have this nagging feeling that we're not seeing the whole picture."

(Erica, nodding in agreement) "I know. Aya's been invaluable, but even she doesn't know everything about their operations. We need to stay one step ahead, but it feels like we're always playing catch-up."