Tap… tap… tap… ssshhh…
The sun was high. And a rhythmic code against the gravel path signalled his presence, followed by the soft whisper of fabric brushing against dense foliage.
Ruby sat perfectly still on the stone bench in the Temple's most secluded garden, a place of sculpted hedges and whispering fountains, chosen for its labyrinthine privacy.
Here, one could have a conversation without ever meeting the other's eyes. The thick, green walls served as both barrier and confessional screen.
"Arzhen… thank you for coming."
Her voice was a soft, meant to carry just far enough.
From behind the verdant wall, was a sigh, heavy, weary, and intimately familiar. "Ruby…"
A small, sad smile touched her lips, genuine for a fleeting second. For the paths not taken, for the lifetime that was and the lifetime that could have been. A luxury of emotion she allowed herself only because the hedges hid her face.
"How… are you?" she asked.
