Avelyn did not look away. That was the first thing Aurora noticed. Most people, when faced with silence like this, would shift, even slightly. They would break eye contact, glance around, try to fill the space with something anything to ease the pressure. But Avelyn didn’t. She stood there, calm and still, her gaze steady, her presence unshaken. Aurora tilted her head slightly, studying her in a way that felt almost curious. “You’re not what I expected,” Aurora said again, softer this time. Avelyn’s expression didn’t change. “You said that already.” Aurora smiled faintly. “And I meant it.” A brief silence followed, but it wasn’t empty. It felt like something was being measured, something invisible moving between them. Avelyn took a small step forward, closing just a little more distance. “You didn’t bring me here to repeat yourself.” Aurora’s eyes sharpened slightly. “No.” “Then say what you want to say.” Aurora didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she walked slowly past A
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