"This place…" Alina murmured, unable to pull her gaze away, "it doesn't feel real."
"It is very real," Dante said, his voice a deep calm beside her. "This part of the domain is special. It keeps its own seasons. The blossoms bloom only under certain skies."
"They look like night snow," she whispered.
Dante nodded slightly. "Shadow Blossoms represent peace in our domain. When they fall like this, it means the land is resting."
Lucien pointed excitedly at the trees. "Teacher, look. Look. That one is biggest. Dad says it is one thousand years old."
Sable tugged on her arm gently. "Teacher, if petal touches your hair, it means domain likes you."
Alina blinked, startled. "Really?"
Sable nodded with absolute seriousness. "Yes. Only special people."
Lucien chimed in, "Teacher is special."
Alina felt her cheeks warm. She touched the small petal resting near her ear and smiled softly. "It is beautiful… I have never seen anything like it."
