Elaris handed the jewel back to me with the same careful reverence, fingers brushing mine like she was entrusting me with something fragile and sacred—even though she still didn't know its full significance.
I accepted it, slipped it into my pocket, and pressed down once just to feel its solid weight against my thigh.
When I looked up, Sarah was already watching from the side—arms loosely crossed, one eyebrow arched in that quiet, expectant way of hers. She wasn't saying anything dramatic. She didn't need to. The look in her eyes said she was waiting for judgment on her handiwork, and she wasn't planning to blink until she got it.
She tilted her head slightly. "So… is my fashion sense great, or what?"
Her voice was casual, almost playful, but the tiny edge underneath told me she actually cared about the answer.
I didn't hesitate. "Yes. It's perfect."
