the lab felt still, the quiet punctuated only by the soft hum of machinery and the faint shimmer of arcane energy in the air. you’d lost track of time, immersed in your work, the glow from your project casting long shadows across the room. jayce had long since gone home, and viktor had retreated into the depths of his notes, leaving you alone in the silence.

the doors creaked open, their sound echoing against the stone walls. you glanced up, expecting viktor, or maybe jayce who had forgotten something yet again, but instead, it was mel. the councilor moved gracefully through the dim room, the soft rustle of silk and the gentle clink of her golden bracelets breaking the quiet. the lamplight caught on her jewelry, painting her dark skin in warm hues.

you set down your tools, wiping your hands on your apron. “councilor medarda?” you hadn’t meant for it to sound like a question, but her appearance at this hour was unexpected.

mel’s eyes met yours, dark and unreadable, though something flickered behind them — maybe curiosity, maybe something softer. “i was hoping i’d find you here,” she said, her voice smooth and low, like a quiet undercurrent of power. “the city sleeps, but you don’t.” a faint smile touched her lips as she stepped closer. “i admire that.”

she moved beside you, her gaze drifting over the blueprints and unfinished projects scattered around. the pale glow of the arcane crystals illuminated her face, casting an almost ethereal light around her. she lingered a bit too long, close enough for you to catch the subtle hint of her perfume, warm and spiced.

“i’ve been meaning to speak with you,” she said, her fingers trailing along the edge of the workbench. her voice was measured, each word deliberate. “away from the council. away from… prying eyes.” there was a pause, a hesitation, before her gaze found yours again. for a moment, there was warmth there, the mask of poise slipping just a little.