Ludwig could almost see her thoughts in a bubble as she sprinted far faster than any other human could. He matched her stride without leaning into it, arms loose, feet quiet, eyes already mapping the lay of the land ahead. The Heart pushed at his ribs like a hunting hound tugging against a leash, impatient not for blood, but for proof. The amulet took that tug and turned it into a steady pull that did not break his form.
But, just as she turned her head, she saw the smiling face of Ludwig who raised a hand to her, "So when are we picking up the pace?" he said, the smile wide and his feet following her strides with equal measure. His voice arrived level, not winded, as if they had been walking a lane rather than cutting the forest in long, effortless arcs. The expression was polite on the surface, teasing beneath, a question sharpened to glint rather than cut.
