"So…" he said, straightening up. "Time to get really ready."
Aria slid off the table with a small jump, too excited for someone about to enter Arven's illegal underworld.
"Finally. I was getting bored."
Ester gave him a serious look.
"This isn't a ball." He picked up the white mask again, observing the cold reflection on the surface. "Every detail matters. Body language, posture, silence."
"You say that as if it's news," Aria replied, already walking towards the bedroom. "Relax. I know how to behave… when I want to."
Damon shook his head, suppressing a smile, and went to his own room. The space was simple: a bed too neatly made for someone who slept little, a desk with papers organized by invisible categories, and a small chest where he kept the essentials.
He opened the chest.
Inside, clothes.
Not noble clothes.
Not student clothes.
Something in between.
