Growing Distance

The warm glow of the setting sun filtered through the tall windows of the palace, casting long, golden streaks across the floor. Valeidio had always been a place of beauty and serenity, but lately, there was a tension brewing beneath the surface, one that neither Lucian nor Julian could understand.

Ever since their return from Zephryos, Amarok had been different, distant in ways that shook the twins to their core.

Lucian stood by the window, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the glass. "Have you noticed?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Julian, seated on the edge of the bed, looked up, his brows furrowed. "Noticed what?"

"Amarok," Lucian said, turning to face his twin. "He's... different. He barely looks at us anymore, and when he does, it's like he's a thousand miles away."