Seraphina was the one who brought it back under control.
She let the moment linger for half a second longer, just enough for the teasing to finish running its course, then straightened slightly in her seat. The warmth didn't vanish, but something more focused settled into her expression as she looked at Noel.
"Alright," she said, not sharply, just firmly enough to reset the tone. "Jokes aside, I want to hear it properly. Not the short version people tell in reports. What actually happened out there."
Noel nodded, the shift landing easily. He leaned back a little, eyes drifting to the curtained window as if lining everything up in his head, then spoke.
"We reached the islands without too much trouble at first," he began. "Things felt wrong almost immediately though. Not abandoned, just… held in place. Like the city itself was waiting for instructions." He glanced back at them. "That's where we ran into the Second Pillar."
Elyra went quiet, listening. Seraphina didn't interrupt.
