As morning came—
Celestine slowly opened her eyes.
"Yawn…"
A quiet, almost lazy sound slipped from her lips as she turned her head slightly toward the window.
Soft light poured in.
Warm.
Gentle.
For a moment—
She just lay there, watching it.
A faint, satisfied smile forming on her face.
Another day.
Another step in the trial.
…Even if she still didn't understand it.
Years had passed.
Again.
And still—
No answer.
No clear path.
The "key" to finishing this trial felt distant. Vague. Like something just out of reach no matter how much she searched for it.
"…Impossible…"
She whispered under her breath.
Or maybe—
She just hadn't found the right way yet.
Slowly, she pushed herself up.
Her movements were natural, practiced. Routine.
Wash.
Dress.
Fix her hair.
Everything done without much thought.
Until—
She stood in front of the mirror.
"…."
For a moment, she just stared.
That face—
She was used to it by now.
Too used to it.
Beautiful.
Refined.
