Underlying tension

The moon casted a silver glow over the quaint restaurant where Channing and Dandeline shared a dinner. The warmth of the fire surrounded them in contrast to the chill outside, enveloping them in a cozy atmosphere. Plates of roasted meats and steaming vegetables lay before them, untouched as they delved into a conversation that felt both nostalgic and new.

"No way your parents were that strict growing up" Channing chuckled, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of amusement and fondness. He took a sip from his glass of wine.

Dandeline nodded, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. She sighed before revealing, "My mother was relentless. She demanded perfection in everything. More than all of that she had to be strict because I would always get in trouble for trying to learn those forbidden spells. She made me write an entire book of spells after I burned down a section of the library accidentally."