In Ryaenara's Dimension of Existence, among the floating temples and the still stellar lakes, Noah's body stood changed, and she felt it the moment the change arrived.
The heaviness came off him like cold off deep water. She had left a curious, confident young monster refining himself among her shrines, and something else stood in his place now, something quieter and darker around the edges, and Ryaenara had lived long enough to know exactly what that particular quiet meant. She opened her mouth to ask.
Her book buzzed first.
She blinked and retrieved the small grimoire from wherever she kept it, worn leather warm against her palm, and its pages whispered open to reveal a fresh message written in the same simple, cold instruction as always.
Osmont should be in a time of loss right now. It is a chance to get closest to him. Move accordingly.|
...!
Ryaenara closed the book slowly, and a frown settled over her fair face, the perpetual smile gone entirely.
