Navia sat at her vanity, carefully brushing through her long hair. Each stroke helped tame the dark strands, still damp from her bath, while the soft candlelight in the room cast a gentle glow across her reflection. She hummed quietly, the tune a familiar one that had lodged itself in her thoughts. It was from the play she attended earlier that evening, a lively sea shanty sung by a group of actors dressed as pirates. Their voices had carried so much energy and charm that the melody had woven itself into her mind. Even now, the rhythm played over and over, echoing like a siren’s call.

Her foot tapped in time to the imaginary beat, and she could almost hear the stomping of boots on a wooden deck and the crash of ocean waves that had accompanied the song. “Archons above,” She muttered, setting her brush down on the vanity with a clatter. “Why can’t I get that song out of my head?” Frustration tinged her voice as she ran her fingers through her hair, pulling the last bit of water from the strands. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, resigning herself to the fact that it might stay with her for the rest of the night.

She leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath, finally ready to turn her attention away from her relentless internal soundtrack. As she swiveled around to stand, her eyes landed on the doorway. Her heart skipped a beat. Someone was there—watching her, leaning casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, with a smirk curling at their lips.

“Oh!” She exclaimed, startled and flustered by the sudden intrusion. “My apologies, I didn’t hear you come in.” She quickly pulled the edges of her bathrobe tighter around herself, the blush on her cheeks deepening as she realized how exposed she felt, clad only in the thin, silky material. “How may I help you?”