Saquin...

Saquin sat on a wooden chair near Miranda's counter, his posture relaxed but his mind distant. He and the girls had returned a while ago, and now they were a few seats away, giggling as they admired different gowns.

Kresa held a white dress to her chest, tilting her head as she imagined how well it would fit. Beside her, Vinta held up two dresses of contrasting colors, her brow furrowed in consideration.

Behind the counter, Miranda watched her daughter with a gentle smile. The past few days had been a whirlwind, and she still hadn't fully grasped the changes unraveling in her life.

First, there was Axia—a carefree beauty with an odd but effortless presence. Miranda still remembered the day she arrived, stepping into the humble eatery in her pristine Frathna Academy uniform. It was such a strange sight, yet Axia didn't seem to mind. She had even joked around with them, as if this was where she belonged.

Then, later that day, everything changed.