ntly. Alistair, much to the surprise of his colleagues (and perhaps himself), found himself offering to help her settle back into her apartment. He told himself it was out of c

acups, he noticed a framed photograph on a nearby shelf. It was a picture of Elara, taken before the accident, smiling radiantly. Her dark

tly, noticing his gaze. "I don'

a spark in her eyes in the picture, a vibrancy that seemed slightly dimm

wear the locket?

bit she seemed to have developed. "I think so.

ara's case, piecing them together from fragmented memories and dreamlike visions). He told her about his work, his love for classical music, and

open between them, Elara suddenly gasped. "That's it!" she exclaimed, poin

earing a stylized star above a crescent moon, intertwined wi

feeling strangely familiar on her to

egion of Europe known for its ancient castles. A legend was associated with the House of Valerius –

"There are... legends," he began hesitantly, "stories of a noble famil

and gripping Alistair's arm tightly. "I... I see something," she murmured, her ey

dy, his heart pounding in his chest. The air in the room felt

on faded. Elara blinked, her eyes focusing o

she whispered, he

skin. "I don't know," he admitted, his mind reeling.

tion between them, once a mysterious pull, was beginning to take shape, hinting at a love that transcended