The quiet atmosphere around the lake seemed to shift the moment that voice reached Luca's ears, the calm night air suddenly carrying a strange liveliness that had not been there a moment before. Moonlight shimmered gently across the water, silver ripples dancing beneath the breeze while shadows from the surrounding trees stretched across the ground like dark curtains hiding unseen secrets.
Luca stopped mid-step.
The familiar voice echoed softly once more through the night, playful and distant at the same time, and as realization dawned upon him, he slowly turned back toward the lake.
Yet—
No one was there.
His brows furrowed slightly as his gaze swept across the shoreline, the rocks, the trees, the faint mist lingering near the water.
Nothing.
"…Where are you?" he asked at last, his tone carrying more curiosity than caution as he looked around carefully.
A soft laugh answered him almost immediately.
"I'm not telling you."
