[center][img]https://i.ibb.co/2vFBxzb/OIG2-1-1.png[/img][/center]
[sub]Interactions/Mentions: [@c3p-0h] Amaya, [@Dark Light] Vellion, [@BlackRoseSiren] Aurora, [@Fetzen] Valthyr, [@The Muse] Flynn, [@Dezuel] Gadez [/sub][hr]
[indent] [color=#ffffff]Elara’s gaze lingered on the man, a mix of concern and intrigue flickering within her. There was an edge to his request to see the temple, an unsettling tone beneath the simple words, that hinted at motives beyond his polite demeanor. She stole a quick glance at Amaya, wondering if her friend felt the same sense of unease or if Elara’s own instinct to protect was heightening her suspicion, especially after her earlier almost guileless reaction.[/color]

[color=#0054a6]“The temple is a peaceful place,” [/color][color=#ffffff]she said calmly. [/color][color=#0054a6]“I’m sure you’ll find solace there.” [/color][color=#ffffff]The words were simple, but her gaze held steady on him, a quiet promise to keep close watch. Whatever his purpose, she intended to follow his movements with the caution that the situation seemed to call for, each word a signal that she was not as easily swayed by his genteel exterior.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]As she awaited his response, her attention flicked momentarily to the newcomer, a man whose attire seemed almost as strange as his timing. His clothing was light, a far cry from the warm layers Dawnhaven’s harsh winter demanded, and his bare feet sank into the snow as if the cold were an afterthought. Curiosity and caution both stirred within her—he seemed entirely out of place, like a wanderer from another world, and Elara felt an odd pull to understand what had brought him here. She couldn’t deny the unusual air about him, though whether it was a sign of innocence or something more elusive, she couldn’t yet tell.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Before she could even begin to parse the strangeness of yet another arrival, a familiar figure joined them—Flynn, the prince. His presence seemed to fill the space with a quiet authority, and Elara noticed the gentleness in his movement as he placed a steady hand at the small of Amaya’s back. He offered a brief, apologetic smile to the group, his voice smooth and effortlessly respectful, carrying that undeniable weight of belonging. Then, leaning in to speak with Amaya alone, he held her gaze with a subtle warmth that seemed to form an unspoken connection, a moment so private that Elara felt herself almost intruding, even as she stood a respectful distance away. [/color]

[color=#ffffff] And yet, she couldn’t ignore the mix of emotions that washed over her—gratitude, yes, but also something else, an ache she hadn’t anticipated. 

She was genuinely relieved that Amaya had found someone who appeared to understand her so naturally, someone who could shoulder her burdens without words. But as she watched their quiet exchange, she felt herself pulled back by an unwelcome pang, a flicker of something fragile in the face of this silent understanding they seemed to share. [/color]

[color=#0054a6][i]Almost like I do. [/i][/color]

[color=#ffffff]The thought caught her off guard, unexpected and bittersweet. She lowered her gaze, feeling the faint sting beneath her relief, surprised by its sharpness. She had been at Amaya’s side long before Flynn entered her life, as her handmaiden, her confidante, the one who knew Amaya’s silent struggles and hidden fears. And now, watching Flynn hold that same position with her friend, she felt an unwelcome shift, as though her place beside Amaya was being subtly, yet irrevocably, redefined.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Elara averted her gaze, allowing them a moment of privacy while her own thoughts churned. She’d shared countless conversations with Amaya. Yet since Flynn’s arrival, the princess had grown more reserved, guarding parts of herself that she once openly shared. Elara, always careful and gentle, had refrained from asking about Flynn, unwilling to push too far into Amaya’s guarded heart. But these small exchanges—the stolen glances, the quiet words, the weight of unsaid things—left Elara questioning her own place in Amaya’s life, each unasked question seeming to rise, more insistent, as she watched them together. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]As Flynn offered Amaya a final reassuring look, he straightened, addressing the group with a polite apology for his departure. Elara noted the slight reluctance in his stance, a glance back at Amaya before he turned to leave. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]She herself couldn’t deny the small sense of relief that accompanied his exit, however.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]But that relief brought with it a stirring of something else, something more complex. The space Flynn left behind felt heavier than before, as though he had taken with him an invisible tether that had once bound her and Amaya. Amaya remained rooted beside her, but her expression was distant, her eyes seemingly glazed with the memory of Flynn’s presence, as if part of her still followed his retreat. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]Elara’s gaze flicked to her friend’s face, reading the thoughtful quiet that had settled there, and she felt another pang she couldn’t quite place. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]An unexpected sense of being on the outside.[/color][/indent]