Before the Storm of Words
He stayed quiet, just then. Water whispered where words should have been. Turning slowly, he looked at her. His expression held stillness, deep like scars beneath skin. "Behind flawless things," he said, "there's usually something meant."
A silence passed, short yet heavy, then Julia spoke up from somewhere in front - calm, smooth, proper. Lord Suncrest was ready
A hush followed her voice, sharp but fluid like water over stones. This shifted where everyone was looking, pulling eyes ahead, unstitching what bound the two apart. Julia stood facing front now, spine straight, fingers clasped - calm, composed, untouched by whatever stirred at her back. Still, a slight hesitation in how she moved hinted that something had reached her after all.
Footsteps barely broke the silence while she moved ahead, guiding their path across the open yard. Behind her, sound faded like the house had paused mid-inhale.
