The meeting had wrapped up, but its echoes still danced in Billy's mind.
He wandered away from the Main Palace, meandering through long marble corridors that shimmered softly under the morning light streaming through tall glass windows.
Servants bowed as he passed, their footsteps barely audible, their presence a mere blur. He hardly noticed them; his thoughts were tethered to Arthur's words.
Stepping outside, he inhaled deeply, appreciating the softer, cleaner air.
One of the Dominion Sanctum's gardens sprawled before him like a serene oasis nestled between towering walls of glass and stone.
The sweet scent of blooming jasmine wafted on the breeze, while the impeccably trimmed grass sparkled with dew that had yet to evaporate in the rising sun.
Billy's boots crunched lightly on the gravel path as he made his way toward the pond where Kaia often lingered.
And there she was.
Kaia sat at the water's edge, her gown a gentle ripple of pale fabric against the stone ledge.
