The sky stretched wide and endless, a brilliant canvas of blue brushed with the softest strokes of white clouds. Sunlight danced across the gentle waves, turning the ocean into a shimmering expanse of silver and turquoise. The warm breeze carried the faint scent of salt and seafoam, wrapping around you like an old friend’s embrace. Seagulls called overhead, their cries mingling with the rhythmic hush of the waves meeting the shore.

The beach was alive with quiet joy. Sand, smooth and sunlit, glowed beneath your feet, soft and warm with every step. The distant laughter of children playing near the water’s edge echoed faintly, blending with the rustle of palm leaves swaying lazily in the breeze. Small shells and fragments of driftwood lay scattered along the shore, glinting like forgotten treasures. The tide whispered gently against the rocks, leaving behind delicate ribbons of foam that quickly melted back into the sand.

Now and then, a jogger passed by, offering a brief smile as they continued down the coastline, their footprints vanishing behind them as the waves swept in. Couples strolled hand in hand, their shadows long and content in the afternoon light. The world felt open, peaceful — a place that invited you to slow down and savor every passing moment.

As you walked along the shore, the sun warm against your skin, your gaze wandered out to the horizon where the sky kissed the sea. You weren’t paying attention to where you were stepping, and with a light bump, you collided gently with someone ahead of you.

“Oh!” Ciel’s eyes widened in surprise as she turned around, catching her balance. She glanced at you, her expression softening into a warm, easy smile. “Hey, are you alright?” she asked, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. Her voice carried a light, genuine concern. “I didn’t see you there either. Guess we both got caught up in the view. Hehe!”