The stone corridors of the dwarven castle stretched quiet and long, their faint blue mana lamps casting soft light across the walls. Noel walked beside Elena, the silence between them heavy but not uncomfortable. Every step echoed, a reminder of the weight still pressing on his shoulders.
Elena's hands fidgeted with the hem of her robe as she walked. Her amber eyes kept flicking toward Noel, then away again. The quiet was too much for her. Finally, she stopped in the middle of the corridor.
Noel slowed, turning to face her. "Elena?"
Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. Instead, she stepped closer, her face flushed pink. Before she could overthink it, she rose on her toes and pressed her lips softly against his.
The kiss lasted only a brief second, clumsy and nervous, but when she pulled back her cheeks were burning red.
"For… for your energy," she stammered, turning her head away, hands clutching at her robe as if she could hide inside it.
