One hour from now… you’ll all stand before me, in my dimension

The inner garden was one of the few places in the palace where silence didn't feel ominous. Soft rustling leaves, the quiet splash of a fountain, the occasional footstep on stone tiles—everything sounded as if the world had exhaled. As if even the air had settled for a moment to listen.

Sylphia walked slowly behind the long gown of Veynessa, who, as always, seemed to glide more than walk. Their strolls never had a defined destination, and yet Veynessa never allowed a single path to be chosen at random.

"So..." Sylphia began, seemingly offhanded, but with a tightness in her voice that revealed how long she'd carried the question. "You really moved her into Lady Calista's apartment?"

"Yes," Veynessa answered without pausing. "Shion will be living with her from now on and training under her supervision."

Sylphia frowned and came to a halt. "But why her?"