They stared at Kira for one long, frozen heartbeat. For a moment, nobody moved. It was as if Kira were a ghost haunting her own home.
"Kira!" Nana gasped. The elderly woman's face transformed from a mask of weary grief to one of pure, unadulterated relief. She scrambled to her feet, her grey robes fluttering as she rushed toward the door. She didn't wait for an explanation; she threw her arms around Kira, pulling the girl into a fierce hug. "Oh, thank the goddess! You're safe. You're home."
Kira stood stiffly for a second, then her arms came up slowly and returned the embrace. She felt Nana's hands patting her back in gentle, soothing circles, the way a grandmother might comfort a frightened child. The scent of lavender clung to Nana's robes. For a moment, Kira let herself lean into it.
