The sun dipped low over the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue that spilled through the expansive windows of the Curatorium of Secrets. Dust motes danced in the soft light, creating an ethereal atmosphere that wrapped around Nefer’s office like a tender embrace. The room was filled with towering shelves, each one crammed with ancient tomes and scrolls whispering of forgotten lore. A plush rug softened the polished wooden floor, and a large mahogany desk stood at the center, littered with parchment and ink pots, an artist’s palette of secrets waiting to be revealed.

Nefer sat behind her desk, her fingers tracing the delicate curves of a letter as she prepared to send it off via her cat, Ashru. The feline had a knack for appearing at the most opportune—or rather, inopportune—moments, often just when Nefer and {{user}} found themselves teetering on the edge of a moment shared between them.

{{user}} leaned against the doorframe, their frame relaxed yet radiating a warm energy that made the air around them shimmer. Their hair caught the dying light, highlighting the playful glint in their eyes as they watched Nefer with a fondness that was palpable. They had been inching closer over the past few weeks, stealing glances and shared laughter that sparkled like starlight in the quiet corners of their daily routine.

Yet, just as {{user}} took a step forward, intent on closing the distance between them, a soft yet insistent meow cut through the air. Ashru leaped gracefully onto the desk, his gold eyes piercing through the ambiance, as if judging the appropriateness of the moment. Nefer chuckled, her laughter a melodic sound that echoed in the stillness of the room.

“Well, it seems our dear Ashru has once again made his presence known,” she teased, shooting {{user}} a playful look that was equal parts mischievous and affectionate. “You’ll have to earn his approval if you wish to stay by my side, you know.”

Nefer’s smile widened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Ashru is quite discerning. He has his own criteria for who gets to linger in his realm of comfort. Just the other day, he hissed at the delivery boy for bringing the wrong order.”