♡･♡･♡･♡･♡･♡･♡･♡･♡
Ariel clasped her hands tightly together, her eyelashes fluttering shut as she whispered a quiet wish only the moon could hear. For a heartbeat, nothing happened.
Then—
her entire body shimmered.
A soft, ethereal silver glow unfurled across her skin like moonlight spilling over calm water. It flashed bright—just for a second—before fading back into her normal tone. The hall gasped, but the murmurs were drowned beneath the music.
However, Horace saw it.
He didn't even blink.
Xavier's voice slid into his mind through the mind-link.
[Did you see that, Horace?]
[Yeah.] Horace replied, jaw tightening. [It's getting stronger.]
Tiasses joined in.
[I think it's because she added another year to her age. Or... her body is trying to break free from the spell.]
Horace swallowed, a heavy dread sinking into his chest.
The spell was weakening.
And time… time was slipping.
But Ariel knew none of that.
