They led them through a short corridor into a room that smelled of citrus and oil. A low couch sat by a wide window. Silk drapes hung heavy and a small table was already set with fruit and wine.
Guards posted outside the door, their helmets dented and ugly.
Eiji dropped onto the couch and watched the courtyard below. The fountain still rippled,men and women walked the stone paths like insects.
Vesper lingered near the entrance, eyes darting once to the guards, then the ceiling's carved edges. She didn't sit,she pressed her palm against the doorframe as if measuring its thickness, her silence louder than speech.
Alma's voice unfolded in his head,clean and familiar.
[ System core active. Status: online.]
She was back, maybe or not, the voice had the same reckless ease it started with. For a moment he felt relief like a warm wash..but she wasn't talking to him still.
