Midday drew near.
The sunlight, once soft, now shone a little brighter, casting a warm glow over the ruins of the old facility an odd radiance that somehow made the place feel alive.
The wind drifted gently through the overgrown grass and rusted scraps of metal.
Birdsong drifted faintly from the distance, filling a silence that no longer felt empty.
Yet Aurelia's attention remained fixed on the figure beside her.
The being made of light was growing more stable by the moment.
The lines of its face were forming more clearly than before. Though still translucent and composed of fine glowing particles, subtle expressions had begun to show upon its indistinct features.
And every time it looked at Aurelia…
Its gaze grew soft and warm.
The entity shifted gently.
Its luminous outline pulsed steadily, its core emotions now far calmer than they had been before.
The units stationed further back maintained the network connection.
