LightReader

Chapter 295 - Trial IX

Rhys noticed the change only because it felt natural to notice it. His breathing stayed slow, even. He let his gaze rest on nothing in particular—the grain of the wall, the way dust drifted in a beam of light, the quiet competence with which the server moved through the room again. There was no pull to engage, no need to withdraw.

Caria shifted her chair slightly, angling it a touch so she could see both the room and the door without effort. It wasn't caution. It was comfort—finding the position that required the least adjustment. She rested her forearms loosely on the table, fingers relaxed, shoulders unburdened.

Puddle responded to the subtle change in light, its surface darkening just a fraction, reflecting less and absorbing more. It didn't sleep, exactly, but it entered a deeper stillness, as if aligning with the slower rhythm settling over the wayhouse.

This is the end of Part One, download Chereads app to continue:
More Chapters