The night was quiet as usual.
Everyone was asleep, or at least, they should have been.
Elyra sat just outside the cave, her arms wrapped around her knees. Her expression was unreadable, her dark eyes fixed on the space ahead of her.
Her plans were intact. Everything was going as expected.
She heard the footsteps before she saw him. Slow, steady, measured.
"What are you doing outside?"
Vardy's voice was low but curious as he approached.
Elyra remained silent for a moment before standing, turning to face him.
"You're such a nice person," she murmured, her voice carrying something softer, something almost admiring.
Vardy smiled slightly, a small, amused curve of his lips. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
Elyra took a slow step forward, closing the space between them. The air felt heavier, charged with something unseen. Her fingers traced along the edge of her sleeve, where a hidden rune lay pressed into the fabric.
"Not bad," she whispered. "Just... unexpected."
