The sun had dipped below the horizon when Xion returned to the castle.
The faint hush of evening lingered in the halls, broken only by the quiet shuffle of servants and the distant rush of the wind outside.
Chill seemed to seep inside his bones. His hands shivered, and so did his entire body.
"Leave, Ray. I'll go alone from here on. You should rest too."
Just as the knight commander hesitated between persuading Xion not to think too much and simply following him until he was safely with his master, the Archduke approached them.
With a deep bow, Raymond Eldritch left for his quarters. He would have to report today's incident to the Archduke the next morning. It was better to prepare for the scolding.
Xion stood there, staring at the tall figure bathed in the moonlight. When he didn't move, the silver-haired elf stepped forward and engulfed him in a tight embrace.
