I find Ellidy sitting alone on a stone bench in the gardens, her silhouette softened by the twilight. The garden is quiet, with only the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds settling down for the night. Roses and ivy climb along the wrought-iron trellises, casting intricate shadows on the paths. The air is filled with the soothing scent of lavender and jasmine as a cool evening breeze drifts through.

I smile as I sit down beside her. "Hi, you."

She looks up, her usually sharp gray eyes catching the fading light. "Hey. What's wrong? You seem upset."

I glance down, fidgeting with my hands, feeling the weight of my thoughts. "No, it's nothing," I murmur, not quite meeting her gaze.

She places a hand gently on my shoulder, her touch grounding me. "Come on, I can tell when something's wrong. Spill."

I hesitate, then finally say, "I had another nightmare." Her expression softens, the usual steely look in her eyes melting away.

"The same one?"

I nod, wiping a tear that I didn't even realize had fallen. "Always."

She wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. "Do you... wanna talk about it?" Her thumb rubs my shoulder in a gentle, comforting rhythm.

"My dad," I begin, my voice catching, "he's just..."

Her head tilts as she listens, her expression patient and kind. "Overprotective?"

I nod, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness. "Yeah."

"Of course he is," she says softly, her voice like the whisper of leaves. "After you nearly got yourself killed in that last fight with Heaven, it makes sense that he's worried about you."

I reach out and take her hand, feeling the coolness of her fingers against mine. "But you were there to protect me."

She chuckles softly, her tone light, trying to ease the mood. "Yeah, I was. But he's still going to worry. He's your dad, and dads are naturally overprotective." She gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "At least you have a dad."

I look away, fighting back another tear. "You've never told me about your parents."

Her expression darkens slightly, and she glances away before turning back to me with a forced smile. "Oh, it's nothing."

I manage to stop the tears and smile back, a little lighter than before. "You're amazing, you know that?"

She lets out a small laugh, a genuine smile lighting up her face. "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself." She leans closer, gently bumping my shoulder with hers.

In the soft light, her usually cold gray eyes sparkle with warmth, and her blond hair catches the last glow of the evening as it falls over her face. She leans her head against my shoulder, and her sharp features relax, revealing a rare gentleness.

Sorry for the short chapter 

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