Chapter 116: The Rhythm of Vigilance
Winter came to the cove, not with the howling fury of past years, but with a deep, quiet sternness. The sea turned the colour of hammered lead, and the wind carried the crisp, clean scent of snow from the distant peaks. Inside the cottage, the rhythm of their new yet another peaceful life found its beat against the season's stillness.
Aurora's education evolved. Her understanding of resonance was innate, profound, but it was her understanding of people that needed gentle shaping. Elara's lessons in the garden moved indoors to the hearth. They practiced writing not just with charcoal on slate, but with a finger in the frost on the windowpane, tracing the patterns of ice crystals and discussing their temporary, perfect beauty. "It's a song of cold," Aurora said one morning, her breath fogging the glass as she completed a delicate, branching fern of frost. "A very quiet, very specific song. And then the sun changes it."
