The Awakening of Fire
BRISEIS The gardens feel different after Orion leaves. Not empty exactly, but quieter in a way that makes me suddenly aware of everything around me. The soft wind brushing through the leaves. The distant sound of servants moving somewhere beyond the hedges. The quiet splash of water from the fountains scattered through the grounds. I stand for a moment on the stone path, watching the direction Orion disappeared toward. The bond between us still feels strange inside my chest—like a warm thread tying us together across the castle. Even now I can feel him somewhere in the distance, the connection steady and alive. It is comforting in a way I did not expect. Lyra tugs on my hand before I can think about it too long. “Come on,” she says brightly. “I want to show you the pond. The big one
- Writer
