The morning air hung cold and thin above the winding road that led toward the farmland. Dew clung to the grass, glimmering faintly beneath a pale sun that had only just risen beyond the hills.
Alina pressed a hand to her chest, her breath uneven. A faint tremor rippled through her fingers. "Huh… huh…" She frowned, trying to steady herself, but the throbbing behind her ribs only grew sharper.
Elara, walking beside her, slowed. "What is it?" Her voice was soft but edged with concern.
"I don't know." Alina's brows drew together. "It feels like… something's wrong. My heart—" She stopped, searching for the words. "I feel uneasy. Like I'm losing something important."
Elara's steps faltered. Her silver eyes dimmed. "I feel it too," she whispered, a pallor creeping into her cheeks. "This isn't just nerves… could it be—Yanlu?"
The name alone seemed to chill the wind.
Alina shook her head quickly, almost desperately. "No. She's strong. Yanlu wouldn't—she can't—"
