After breakfast, Starfania thanked Miss Ren warmly, promising to return before supper. Ren gave her a knowing smile—the kind that silently wished her a day of adventure and laughter—and sent her off with a gentle wave. The morning air outside the castle was crisp, the kind that made her hair dance lightly in the wind.
The cobblestone streets shimmered faintly with the remnants of rain, and the village stirred to life. The familiar hum of the markets; the chatter of merchants, and the smell of freshly baked bread filled the air. For a fleeting moment, Starfania felt peace—a fragile illusion of normalcy after the heaviness of the night before. But even as she smiled and greeted a few passersby, the uneasy tug in her chest hadn't vanished. There was something pulling her…whispering her name softly toward Bone's cave. Yet, she tried to silence it. Not today, she told herself. Today, I just want to feel normal again. So lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the figure turning the corner until she collided with him.
A startled gasp escaped her lips as she stumbled—only to feel a firm grip catch her before she could fall. When she looked up, her breath caught for an entirely different reason.
" Daniel!" She blurted, her cheeks flooding pink. He grinned, still steadying her by the arms. " Careful there, Starry. You'll start to make people think you enjoy running into me."
Her embarrassment turned into laughter, though her heart was pounding in her chest.
" Maybe it's fate, " she teased softly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. " Though if it is, it has terrible timing."
Daniel's eyes softened at that, his thumb briefly brushing against her arm before he let go.
" Fate's timing usually is," he replied with that easy charm that always made her pulse quicken.
They lingered in that moment—just a second too long—before she stepped back and cleared her throat. " So…what brings you here this early?"
" I was about to ask you the same thing," he said, his smile tilting into a smirk. " Got any plans today? Or is this another one of your mysterious adventures with Aeron?"
The mention of Aeron brought an unexpected flutter of guilt, though she hid it behind a light shrug. " Nothing decided yet. Maybe I'll just…see where the day takes me."
Daniel nodded, but his gaze lingered on her face a little longer than usual.
There was something unreadable in his expression—a softness, almost hesitation—before he said, " Actually, I was wondering if you'd want to spend the day with me?"
For a moment, Starfania's mind went blank. The village seemed to fade, leaving only the sound of her racing heartbeat. She blinked, trying to process his words.
" With you?" She repeated, as if making sure she hadn't imagined it. Daniel chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. " Yeah, unless you're too busy bumping into people."
Her laugh came out breathless, uncertain, but real. " I—no, I'd love that. Really."
And it was true. She'd dream of this—of Daniel choosing her, of their laughter blending under sunlight instead of just in fleeting moments between classes or crowded halls. Now that it was actually happening, it felt surreal, too fragile to be real. As she tried to calm the butterflies fluttering in her stomach, Daniel's grin widened. He stepped a little closer, the scent of cedar and wing clinging faintly to him. His voice dropped, quieter now, but carrying a warmth that made her heart trip over itself.
" You have no idea how long I've wanted to ask that," he whispered. Starfania froze—her breath caught, her laughter fading as their eyes locked.
His nearness sent her thoughts scattering, and she found herself instinctively taking half a step back, just enough to steady herself.
" Daniel…" she started, unsure if she wanted to break the tension or surrender to it. He only smiled, boyish yet knowing. " Relax, Starry. It's just a walk."
But the look in his eyes—the one that lingered a heartbeat too long—told her it wasn't just that. And for the first time in days, Starfania let herself forget the strange unease, the visions, the shadow of her father's anger. For now, it was just her and Daniel's beneath the morning sun, caught in the quiet thrill of something that felt both new and dangerously familiar.