Lily sat surrounded by stacks of books, her fingers rubbing her temples in frustration. For days, she’d been searching for information about crystal totems, yet every book offered only vague mentions or basic knowledge she already possessed. She closed another thick volume with a sigh, adding it to the growing pile of unhelpful resources.
The small lamp on her desk flickered, casting dancing shadows across the walls. Lily glanced out the window, noticing that night had fallen. She’d lost track of time again.
Stretching her stiff limbs, Lily decided to call it a night. No use straining her eyes further when the information simply wasn’t there. She turned to find Martha asleep in the armchair by her bed, head tilted at an uncomfortable angle, soft snores escaping her lips.
A fond smile touched Lily’s lips as she grabbed a blanket from her bed and gently draped it over the older woman. Martha had insisted on staying with her despite Lily’s protests that she needn’t bother.
