The morning upon the campus unfolded with a brightness that felt almost deliberate in its innocence, as though the world here had never learned the weight of shadows, and Elara walked beneath tall trees and scattered laughter with a composure that did not quite belong among such careless lives.
Her steps were steady, neither hurried nor hesitant, yet there lingered within her posture a quiet alertness, a tension that did not fade even when surrounded by harmless voices and passing smiles.
Students moved in loose clusters, their conversations light and fleeting, their eyes curious in passing yet unburdened by recognition, and still, Elara felt the gaze that lingered a fraction longer than it should, the subtle pull of attention she could never fully escape.
Her fingers brushed faintly against the strap at her shoulder, a grounding motion so small it would go unnoticed, though it steadied something within her that refused to settle completely.
