The morning after was soft, bathed in the gentle, synthesized light of Kaelen's room. The lingering warmth between them was palpable, a new, comfortable intimacy that settled deep within their shared space. Kaelen, usually so bold, found herself surprisingly shy. She snuggled closer to Elias, her head resting on his chest, listening to the impossibly steady rhythm of his heart. A faint blush dusted her cheeks whenever she thought back to the night, but it was a happy blush. Elias, for his part, felt a deep sense of peace he hadn't known was possible, a quiet understanding that hummed between them.