"Wait, Elara!" David called, his voice echoing against the weathered buildings of Valemir's western district. The cobblestone path, illuminated by the golden light of the setting sun, forced him to maintain a hurried-but-controlled pace as he pursued the Archon's rigid back. "Could you slow down just a second?"
Elara maintained her deliberate stride, arms crossed tightly across her chest. Her cheeks remained puffed with indignation, eyes firmly closed each time she sensed him gaining ground. The childish gesture might have seemed comical coming from the Archon of Lysora County, one of the empire's most formidable flame sorceresses, yet somehow it only enhanced her natural dignity—like a queen expressing royal displeasure.
They left me and stayed out the entire night without saying a word!
The thought circled through Elara's mind, stoking her irritation with each repetition.
After everything we've been through, he still doesn't trust me enough to explain.
