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The horse's steady gallop beat a rhythm down the dirt path, the sun casting long shadows over the trees as Alex guided them toward Garnet. She sat tall in the saddle, reins firmly in her hands, her back straight, gaze fixed on the road ahead. Aristellus sat behind her, arms resting carefully on either side, close enough to feel the warmth of her but mindful not to intrude. An awkward silence hung between them, thick and unspoken, as if each word they hadn't said was waiting just below the surface.
Alex cleared her throat, then fell silent again, clearly struggling to find the right words. Aristellus could feel her shifting slightly, as though she were on the verge of speaking but couldn't quite make herself do it. He kept his gaze fixed on the road, pretending not to notice, though he felt the weight in his chest too.