Evening arrived far too quickly.
Just as promised, Ryley attended the rescheduled meeting for the figure painting project in Hyachintia's office.
Except… he arrived nearly half an hour early.
And judging from the expression on his face, one would think he had just witnessed something horrifying on the way there.
Ryley rarely looked this unsettled. Even during conflicts, he usually carried himself with elegant composure, smiling through irritation as though nothing could truly shake him.
But now?
Now he sat there quietly with tense shoulders and distracted eyes, fingers subtly fidgeting against his sleeve like his thoughts were somewhere else entirely.
When Starla entered the meeting room, she visibly paused in surprise.
"Ryley?" she asked, blinking. "Since when did you arrive? We still have twenty minutes before the meeting begins."
Ryley flinched slightly at being addressed so suddenly, almost as if he had been pulled out of his own spiraling thoughts.
