The warm sunlight seemed to flicker as if reality itself shivered. One moment Albedo was there, sitting on the bench, his aura calm yet imposing, and the next—he was gone. Both Dila and Fran blinked rapidly, their eyes scanning the empty space, hearts skipping a beat.
Dila's voice was barely a whisper, edged with confusion and panic. "W-where did he go…?" Her fingers trembled slightly as she clutched Fran's arm, the silver strands of her hair brushing her face with the breeze. Fran's tail twitched nervously, her ears flattening as she scanned the surroundings, eyes wide with unease.
Before they could process the emptiness, a shadow stretched across their hiding spot, and they felt a sudden presence right behind them. Dila's stomach dropped as she realized he had reappeared—Albedo stood silently, just a breath away from where they crouched, his piercing blue eyes fixed on them. Fran froze, her body stiff, her tail flicking anxiously.
