Sera sighed for the tenth time that morning. She stared out the window of her small house, her fingers absently tracing the edge of the windowsill. It had been days since she last saw Zane, and though she didn't want to admit it out loud, she missed him—a lot. It was quiet, too quiet, even with Ace, her silent lynx companion, curled up beside the door like a furry guardian.
Ace flicked his ear and glanced at her, sensing her gloom. He stood up, padded over, and gently nudged her leg with his head before curling back around her feet. No words, just soft comfort.
Sera smiled faintly, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "You're not much of a talker, huh?" she mumbled.
Ace blinked slowly in response.
Feeling a little suffocated, Sera decided to go for a stroll. The village paths were warm with the late morning sun, and the wind carried the scent of blooming flowers and something sweet—like cinnamon bread, maybe.
She hadn't gone far when she heard a soft giggle up ahead. Turning the corner, she stopped.
A girl in a flowing pink dress twirled barefoot in the middle of the cobbled path. Her hair bounced with every spin, and trailing behind her was a tiny white puppy, yapping in delight and trying to keep up. The puppy, too small to manage the pace, tumbled over its own paws.
The girl finally noticed her and stopped mid-twirl. "Oh! Hello!" she said brightly, adjusting a hair ribbon that had come loose. "I'm Praise!"
The puppy barked once, proudly wagging its tail like it had just introduced itself too.
"That's Bella," Praise said, scooping the puppy up. "She's tiny but mighty."
Sera couldn't help but smile. "Hi. I'm Sera."
Praise nodded enthusiastically. "You looked like you needed a little sunshine. So... here I am!"
Sera raised a brow. "Do you just... appear for sad people?"
"Well, only on days that end in Y," Praise said with a wink.
Sera laughed—really laughed—for the first time in a while. Even Ace looked slightly amused, sitting back and observing the cheerful pair with a flick of his tail.
And just like that, Sera didn't feel so alone anymore.