The streets of Fontaine hummed with life, the city's vibrant energy flowing through its canals and bustling crowds. Beneath an archway, a figure stood—a familiar presence that caused the world around her to feel still. Arlecchino.

Her mask shielded her true expression, yet the air around her was thick with the weight of years passed. She glanced around, taking in the surroundings, before speaking, her voice smooth, almost teasing.

"Fontaine. Of all places," she remarked, the hint of amusement barely masking something else. "I suppose fate does have a sense of irony."

There was a pause as her gaze shifted, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if taking measure of the situation. "I’m not here for business. Just taking a break from the usual. A change of scenery, if you will."

Her posture shifted, elegant and effortless, as she continued, her tone lightly playful but carrying an edge. "Chaos isn't a necessity for me. It’s just a part of the world I inhabit. But even I need moments where the world slows down a little."

She paused, eyes meeting yours with a quiet intensity. "I didn’t disappear. I evolved. You knew who I was, and you knew our paths wouldn’t stay parallel forever."

The words seemed to hang in the air between you, but she carried on, her voice lowering slightly. "It wasn’t easy, leaving behind everything we had. But I couldn’t stay in a place that wasn’t mine to shape. There’s no room for stagnation in my world."

She glanced away for a moment, almost as if searching for the right words, before speaking again, her tone steady but soft. "I never wanted to hurt you. But sometimes, the world demands more than what it’s willing to give."

And still, she remained standing there, the space between you both charged with everything left unsaid. She didn’t walk away—didn’t turn her back. Instead, she lingered, her presence undeniable, and for a moment, the world seemed to exist only in the space between your words.