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Chapter 13 - Chapter I, page 12

"I met Loyn; I want to talk to him a bit more! We haven't seen each other in four whole years," Eley's voice held a princess's caprice—the last island of childhood in a world of adult duties. 

"You can talk to Loyn tomorrow. Yes, Loyn?" Leza turned to me with an intonation leaving no room for objections. 

Fear. Yes, I was afraid. Not of Leza, not of her possible displeasure, but that tomorrow might not come, that between "today" and "tomorrow" a whole eternity could pass. Four years had taught me not to trust the future. 

"Of course, we can talk tomorrow," I replied, and my words held more hope than certainty. 

"Promise?" Eley looked with eyes that see straight into the soul. Her voice held hope so pure and fragile it made me uneasy. 

"I promise-promise," I repeated, and the repetition sounded like a spell, a prayer, a last attempt to hold onto a moment about to slip away. 

They left, leaving me alone with the garden, the wilting vases, and thoughts too complex for a simple evening. I stayed a while longer—watching the last creations melt in the moonlight. Under the starry dome, I pondered that our lives are a chain of brief but bright moments, where even the most ephemeral creation can fill the heart with meaning. 

Mother appeared in the garden with that noiselessness only women who know every stone in their home possess. She always appeared just like that—as if growing from the earth itself, saturated with scents of herbs and maternal care. Her gaze slid over the wet grass, lingered on my hands still holding the chill of magic. 

"Where are all the vases you made?" she asked in a voice demanding not an answer, but an explanation. 

Shrugging, I shook the last drops of melted water from my fingers. 

"They melted. Fulfilled their purpose. I cleaned up the water—best not to leave traces of impotence on display." 

"Oh..." Mother exhaled, and in that sound was so much regret I felt a pang of conscience. "I didn't get to admire your beautiful purple vases. They were so... alive. Like a piece of sunset frozen in your hands." 

"It's nothing," I said, gathering the remnants of magical energy. "Want me to make another one? Right now. A small one. For you." 

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