A streak of lightning ripped through the black sky, casting a brief, harsh glare over the landscape.
It was now deep into the night, and a heavy rain was falling in Cedric's inner sanctuary.
Currently, he was standing on his balcony, leaning against the stone railing as he watched the downpour drench the distant orchard and the castle grounds.
While he was still lost in his thoughts, Aika's voice suddenly echoed in his head.
'Cedric?'~~
Cedric lowered his head a bit, glancing back toward his room.
'Yes, Aika?'~
She didn't reply right away, hesitating for a long moment before she finally spoke again.
'Could you please come to me?'~~
He immediately turned and headed back inside.
'Sure.'~
He crossed the room and waved his hand. The doors swung open, but rather than leading to the usual castle interior, they opened straight onto the rainy battlements.
Cedric walked out of the bedroom and directly into the pouring rain.
