The evening sky deepened into richer shades of orange.
Sunlight slowly dipped behind the ruins of old structures, spreading a warm glow across the entire facility grounds now feeling far more alive than it ever had in the past.
A soft wind drifted through the air.
Wild grass swayed gently between cracks in the concrete, while distant sounds of nature created a sense of calm that felt almost unreal for a place once filled with nothing but pain.
Yet in the midst of it all…
Aurelia remained silent.
Because the glowing figure beside her still rested its head against her shoulder.
That translucent form was now far more stable than before. A faint warmth from its energy radiated softly against Aurelia's side.
And most surprising of all…
Aurelia had begun to grow used to this closeness.
The being beside her shifted slowly.
Its luminous outline pulsed steadily, matching the core emotion that now felt perfectly peaceful.
