It was the sunlight that woke her first, or maybe it was the leftover warmth from a dream she'd been having. Hard to tell. Verona blinked slowly at the ceiling, and for a moment, she didn't even move.
She'd dreamt of Liera.
Not the sad bits, not the parting, just that very first day, the moment she arrived, awkward and hopeful, and Liera's hand reached out like she already knew Verona would need it.
"Hope you're doing well over there," she murmured to nobody in particular. And she meant it. Wherever Liera was now, Verona hoped she was smiling.
By the time she joined Elric in the dining room, she felt almost… buoyant. A rare word for her, but accurate enough. There was an entire spread before them: fruits, grains, eggs, vegetables cut into neat squares that looked too delicate to be meant for eating.
"This is… a lot," Verona whispered, unsure if she was supposed to laugh.
Elric didn't look up, only said, very casually, "You'll need the strength."
