Her name was Clara Delvine, and she was already a familiar face in the entertainment industry—an actress celebrated for her effortless emotional range and natural charm. Recently, she had been cast as the lead for EON's new ten-minute cinematic music video series: a collection of story-driven short films designed to accompany their upcoming album. Each episode told a fragment of an overarching love story through music and performance, and Clara was set to play the heart of it.
The project was one of the most anticipated in the industry—a fusion of music, acting, and visual artistry—and it required working closely with EON for several weeks.
When Clara arrived at the filming studio for the first time, she was greeted by a scene of delightful chaos. Cassian was in the middle of a passionate debate with Jace over choreography. Theo was hunched over a keyboard calibration that, according to him, "no one else could possibly understand," while Luca quietly tuned his guitar, pretending to ignore the noise.
Noah stood apart from the commotion—calm, collected, clipboard in hand. He greeted her with a brief nod and a polite smile before returning his attention to the clipboard. For someone used to the inflated egos of actors and musicians, Clara found his quiet professionalism strangely grounding.
"Clara Delvine, right?" Cassian was the first to approach her, flashing the kind of grin that could light up a stadium. "Welcome to our madhouse."
"Thank you," she said with a laugh. "You all seem… energetic."
"That's one word for it," Theo muttered without looking up.
"She means unmanageable," Luca added, strumming a chord lazily.
"Both accurate," Jace declared, sweeping into an exaggerated bow. "But don't worry, I'm the charming one. You'll like me best."
Cassian threw an arm around Jace's shoulder, steering him away. "Ignore him. He's not allowed near new people until they've been briefed."
Clara laughed again, immediately at ease. The warmth and humor of the group were infectious, and what began as polite introductions quickly turned into an easy rhythm of camaraderie.
Within a few days, she fitted right in. The set's energy was warm and chaotic in equal measure—the kind of atmosphere that made long hours feel short. Between takes, Cassian shared snacks and industry gossip with her, while Jace constantly tried to make her laugh during emotional scenes. Theo, though stern, occasionally demonstrated how to press the piano keys "just right for realism." Luca explained emotional cues in the music, helping her fine-tune her expressions for the camera.
It didn't take long before Clara found herself genuinely fond of all of them.
Noah, however, remained a mystery. He was courteous and professional, but distant in that quiet way of people whose thoughts are always elsewhere. He offered direction with calm precision, praised good takes sincerely, yet never lingered in casual conversation.
Every so often, though, Clara noticed him standing at the edge of the set—phone in hand, a faint smile softening his features as he watched something on the screen. It wasn't his public smile, the one fans saw in interviews. This one was real—unpolished, private and tender.
She couldn't help wondering what, or who, inspired it.
Their filming days often stretched late into the night. One evening, after a particularly demanding shoot, the crew decided to stay overnight at EON's penthouse rather than make the long drive home.Clara, pleasantly exhausted, sat in the lounge with Cassian and Luca, sipping tea while the others wound down.
Jace had already fallen asleep on the couch, half-covered by a blanket Theo had tossed at him. Luca quietly reviewed audio notes, Theo was still tinkering with his equipment despite everyone's protests, and Cassian was scrolling through fan comments on their latest teaser video.
"Is Noah not joining us?" Clara asked, glancing toward the hallway.
Cassian looked up from his phone. "He already left."
"Left?" she echoed, surprised. "At this hour?"
He nodded lazily. "Yeah, he leaves every night around this time. It's kind of his thing."
Her brow furrowed. "Where does he go?"
Cassian smirked. "That's the million-dollar question. We're all still investigating what our fearless leader does after dark."
Luca chuckled. "Probably meditating. Or plotting world domination."
Theo didn't look up. "Didn't Noah say he's still sleeping at the Terania Estate?"
Cassian snapped his fingers, remembering. "Oh, right. He did." A teasing grin tugged at his lips. "But who knows if he's really there? For all we know, that's just his cover story."
Cassian leaned back with a grin. "Maybe. But if you ever find out, Clara, you have to tell us first."
She smiled, amused. "I'll keep that in mind."
As the others drifted into light conversation, Clara's gaze lingered on the empty hallway. For a moment, she imagined Noah stepping out into the night with that same secret smile she'd seen before—calm, quiet, and full of something she couldn't quite name.