As the door clicked softly behind Selene's exit, Lucas let out a long breath. The moment of silence that followed was dense, his mind cluttered with fragments of emotion and strategy. Whatever bond remained with Selene was strained now, threadbare, delicate. But he couldn't afford to dwell on it. Not today.
Rising to his feet, he brushed off the thoughts and busied himself preparing the workspace for what truly mattered, his cultivation. He laid out the utensils and containers needed for potion brewing, his focus sharpening with each movement.
Roughly an hour passed before he sensed the familiar, calm rhythm of Lira's approach. The door opened with a creak, and Lira entered, arms carefully cradling a cloth-wrapped bundle. Her hair was tied into a low braid today, and her face lit up with a soft smile the moment she saw him.
"I got everything on the list," she said, placing the wrapped bundle on the table.
