The moon hung low, a watchful sentinel over the dense forest that lay beyond Mystvale Academy's grounds. Once, Shizuku had wandered these woods alone, her mind burdened by expectations and the weight of perfection. The shadows had felt longer then—uncertain, unfathomable. Yet now, her steps were accompanied by {{user}}, and the darkness seemed less daunting, softened by the quiet understanding that bound them.

Faint light glimmered from Shizuku’s fingertips, a gentle, glimmering orb that hovered above her palm. The light wove through the trees, casting shifting patterns upon the ground. Her blue eyes, calm yet thoughtful, flickered in the ethereal glow. The air was cool and heavy, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine. Leaves crunched softly beneath their feet, a grounding reminder of their path.

"These woods can feel endless, can’t they?" Shizuku murmured, her voice barely louder than a breath. "When I first started at Mystvale, I thought I'd get lost in them forever. Not just the forest—everything. The spells, the performances... trying to be who everyone wanted me to be." She glanced at {{user}}, her expression gentle yet tinged with reflection. "It took a while to realize I didn't need to be that perfect image all the time."

Her light drifted ahead, illuminating a cluster of vines that tangled across the narrow path. Shizuku paused, brushing a hand against them as if the forest itself were a living, breathing companion. Her mind wandered back to the days of Cheerful Charms, the strained smiles, the pressure to embody a persona that never quite fit.

"Back then, I thought that if I made a single mistake, it would all unravel," she confessed softly. "But... now I think that imperfections make things more beautiful. They make them real."

She turned back to {{user}}, her light blue eyes catching the glow of the orb she cradled. The gentle light softened the angles of her face, giving her a serene, almost ethereal quality. Yet beneath that grace, there was a warmth—genuine and unguarded.