It was late in the afternoon. The golden sun spilled through the open window of the quiet home, casting long shadows across the floor. The scent of sweat lingered in the air, a familiar comfort after a day of intense sparring.

Ghislaine sat on the sofa, the floor and the sofa partially lit by the warm glow. She wiped a bead of sweat from her brow, her ears twitching slightly at the soft crunch of footsteps behind her.