You & I

The golden sun of Cresencia bathed the vast landscape in a warm glow, yet the air between Ahcehera and Richard remained cold and distant.

She had hoped that a day spent in her pocket dimension, away from Agartha or Sirius' conflicts, away from the dark energy spreading through the galaxy, would help Richard regain himself.

But he was always silent.

Richard stayed by her side, moving when she moved, watching when she stopped, but never once did he speak.

His once expressive violet eyes were unreadable, clouded with something she couldn't decipher. It was as if he were present yet absent all at once, a shadow of the man she knew.

Ahcehera stole a glance at him as they walked through the lush, endless fields.

The flowers around them swayed gently in the breeze, but Richard's silver-white hair remained eerily still. His entire presence felt too controlled, too restrained.