Shadows of the Past

The rain fell in a steady rhythm against the high, obsidian walls of the palace, a dull murmur against the restless silence that had settled over the grand halls. Enara stood by the arched window of her chamber, her arms crossed as she gazed out over the courtyard below. The torches burned dimly in the drizzle, casting elongated shadows against the stone.

Three years.

It had been three years since Liria vanished from her life.

The memory of that night was still fresh, burned into her mind like a scar that refused to fade. One moment, Liria had been there—her sharp tongue, her irritating stubbornness, her unwavering presence always just a step behind Enara. The next… she was gone.

And no matter how hard she searched, how many leads she followed, Liria was nowhere to be found.