They walked until their feet ached. The road changed from broken stone to smooth red tile.
The trees thinned, the air smelled cleaner. The sun leaned toward the west and warmed their shoulders as if it wanted them to go on.
Rhea led. Vesper brought up a slow, steady pace. Selendra drifted at the back, tail low, eyes darting like a fox. Melchior walked without hurry, hands folded. Eiji stayed near the middle, watching everyone, counting steps.
Alma floated at his side. She was visible to them all now. She hovered a hand's breadth off the ground. Her hair moved without wind. Her laugh was a small bell only the group heard.
"You look better in daylight," Selendra said, and her tail slapped the air.
Alma put a hand to her hip and smiled. "Naturally. Day makes the colors honest." Her voice dropped close to Eiji. "And you blush nicely in the sun, host."
He swatted at her with the tip of a finger and failed to hit the light that was her. He felt stupid and not stupid at once.
