Alaric walked beside Lara, their steps quiet against the stone path winding through the the middle of the garden'. The air was thick with the scent of flowers—rich, layered, alive. Jasmine clung to the breeze like a whispered memory, but Alaric barely noticed. His attention was fixed on her.
She moved with that effortless grace she never seemed aware of, her eyes occasionally flicking to the glowing lanterns that hung like stars brought down to earth. They flickered softly, casting golden light on the carved columns of the gazebo ahead.
The man and the woman stepped into the gazebo nestled in the heart of the garden. The flickering lantern light illuminated the intricately carved pillars like fireflies, casting playful shadows that danced against the dim backdrop.
Lara and Alaric settled across from one another on the weather-worn stone benches, a round marble table separating them. The silence between them was not empty, but electric—charged with unspoken thoughts and memories.
