The little wooden hut gradually returned to silence after the two guards stepped outside, leaving behind only the quiet crackling of the fireplace and the gentle whisper of the night breeze brushing against the weathered walls. The warm glow of the dancing flames illuminated the modest room with a comforting amber light, softening the sharp edges of the simple wooden furniture while long shadows swayed lazily across the floor. Beyond the shuttered windows, the town had finally begun falling asleep, and the cheerful voices that had filled the streets earlier had faded into a distant murmur, allowing the peaceful rhythm of the night to envelop everything.
For several long moments...
Neither Luca nor the Saintess spoke.
The silence between them was neither awkward nor uncomfortable.
It simply existed.
As though both of them understood that the conversation about to begin carried far more weight than either wished to admit.
Then...
Without the slightest warning...
