[Ongoing editing. Read Author's thoughts at the end]
The palace was eerily quiet that afternoon, the air thick with the kind of stillness that felt like the prelude to a storm. Argider wandered the halls aimlessly, her thoughts bouncing between Mira's recent lessons and the tangled chaos that seemed to trail her every step. She paused at the large bay windows overlooking the gardens, her mind drifting to tea—a soothing remedy for her many woes.
"Argider," a familiar voice cut through her musings.
She turned to see Callista standing a few feet away, her usual serene smile firmly in place. Clad in a flowing cream-colored gown that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight, she looked every bit the ethereal enigma she always had.
"Callista," Argider greeted, her tone a mix of surprise and suspicion.
"I was just about to have tea," Callista said, tilting her head slightly. "Would you care to join me?"