The moment Fauna and Cecilia emerged from the portal, the blinding shimmer of the frozen world was replaced by the warm golden daylight of the surface.
But even though they were out, Cecilia's mind couldn't stop replaying that final moment before they left. The way Lady Nadia's usually calm eyes had hardened, her voice turning colder than frost when she told Fauna to leave.
"Um...Lady Fauna?" Cecilia finally asked, still hesitant. "What was that just now?" She gestured vaguely toward the glowing rift behind them. "I thought Lady Nadia was always calm, you know. Perfectly composed, stoic, untouchable."
"But I swear I saw...something. It almost looked like she was angry or jealous. Or was I imagining things?"
"Oh, you weren't imagining anything, dear." She said. "That was real. Nadia really did get quite cross a moment ago."
She placed a hand on her hip and sighed playfully.
"And honestly, that's mostly my fault."
