*Scene: Constantine Castle – Late Afternoon*
*[INT – Mia's Room]*
Mia glances at the enchanted clock ticking away—she's late. She mutters in *Valeria*:
*"Tessra vohkan..."* *("Damn time...")*
*[She grabs her cloak, throws it over her casual outfit, and opens a hidden panel behind her wardrobe. A narrow, ancient tunnel lit faintly by blue runes lies ahead.]*
*[INT – Secret Passageways Beneath the Castle]*
She dashes through narrow hallways, ducking past arcane barriers and slipping by dormant golems. She avoids pressure runes with the precision of someone who's done this before.
*[INT – Watch Tower Overlooking the Back Courtyard]*
Mia's mother stands by a window, sipping tea slowly. She watches as her daughter sneaks past the final wall, vaults over the edge with finesse, and disappears into the trees.
*Mother (to herself, soft chuckle):*
"She's just like me in my days... stubborn little fox."
---
*[EXT – Downtown Street Outside the Restaurant – Dusk]*
Mia, breathless from the run, slows as she nears the restaurant. She adjusts her hair and straightens her outfit, taking a calming breath.
*But then—she stops.*Through the window, she sees Modeus—seated across from *Mira*, who's laughing politely over a shared meal. He even smiles faintly. The relaxed, slightly interested expression she sees on his face is *not the one he usually wears with her.*
*The warmth in Mia's face drains, replaced by pure cold. Her eyes twitch. Her breathing stills. The shadows around her subtly flicker as her aura pulses involuntarily.*
She clenches her fists, muttering in *Valeria*:
*"Vorentha lis vel'ek…"* *("You've got to be kidding me...")*
*[A couple passing by feels a sudden chill and shivers.]*
*Mia turns sharply, her cloak billowing, and disappears into a side alley.*
She didn't come to start a scene—*yet*—but she's definitely not walking in smiling.