Inside the carriage, time stretched in long, quiet hours. Lucas sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his breathing calm and even, threads of Qi flowing around him as he refined it inward. Beside him, Nyx mirrored his posture, her back straight and her focus firm, her own cultivation giving her a calm, regal aura even within the confines of the moving carriage.
Across from them, Lira had a small box resting by her side, her hands nimble as she worked a needle through cloth. Her brow furrowed slightly in concentration, then smoothed each time the thread slid neatly through. There was a faint hum on her lips, a habit she always fell into whenever she was sewing, as the task alone brought her comfort.
