The carriage came to a halt. Harun stepped out first, his boots crunching in the snow as he extended his chiseled, gloved hand to help Talha descend.
Talha stepped down carefully, holding little Sylaris in his arms. The moment they stepped into the night air, Sylaris looked up at the sky and let out a soft, breathy gasp.
"Wow..." her little voice trailed off, her mouth hanging open in fascination. Her deep blue eyes widened, reflecting a celestial sea of light.
Thousands of glowing lanterns floated gracefully through the night sky, their warm light coating the streets, frosted roofs, and towering dark spires in a rich amber glow. The night was so luminous that it surpassed even the brightest sunny days in the capital city. The surrounding shadows melted into soft, golden hues.
Sylaris puffed out her cheeks and pouted, leaning her head back against Talha's shoulder. "I wish dada was here."
"Are you sad?" Harun asked, his eyes softening as he looked down at the little girl.
