A subtle morning breeze moved through the short green blades of grass, carrying their fresh scent as they swayed. At the heart of the humble garden, a maiden sat among them, her fingers digging into the soil behind her as though bracing against collapse. Her eyes were raised to the sky, tears threatening and spilling with intention, her features twisted beyond easy recognition.
Her breath hitched once—sharp, uneven—before she broke.
"Why… why? Why does this keep happening?"
Beside her stood another maiden, her face drawn tight with restrained frustration and helplessness. The same question plagued her, though she refused to unravel as openly as the one collapsed in the grass. Raphai turned toward Lunai, whose tears streamed endlessly.
"Pull yourself together. You're disrupting my thinking process."
Lunai turned her tear-soaked gaze toward her.
"Who did you offend in your past life that is causing me to go through all this?"
