Lucien and Sable nodded so fast their hair bounced.
"Teacher, don't worry!" Sable said, stretching his tiny arms as if hugging the air. "Shadow meditation is very hard!"
Lucien leaned closer with big, comforting eyes. "Dad told me he took a very long time too. Very long. Very, very long."
Dante cleared his throat. "Lucien."
"It was long," Lucien insisted, whispering loudly to Alina. "Dad told me himself."
Alina couldn't help it. Her lips curved into a small laugh, breaking the tension inside her chest.
Dante ignored his son's betrayal and continued gently, "Meditation requires calm. If your heart is heavy or your thoughts are unsettled, the colors will not appear. You should try again later, when you feel lighter."
Alina lifted her eyes to him, and the sincerity in his expression made something warm bloom quietly inside her.
"Okay, sir," she murmured, nodding softly. "I'll try again."
Dante gave a small smile, relieved she wasn't hard on herself. "Good."
