d, revealing Ashwood'

toward the horizon, nest

es widened.

grinned.

his belongings. "Alright,

, releasing the team in

aking a deep breath. H

his hand, helping

hed, sparking a jo

Adeline sa

eld her gaz

heir accommodations-a rus

ed, Adeline's

ey'd begin t

her outside, ga

ecrets we'll un

es sparkled.

hung in the air, a

, casting a golden

d a roaring fire, Dr. L

ntly, Sebastian's pre

Ashwood's mys

eam gathered at the

signments, and they se

artnered up, exploring

through the desolate st

acts, their shoulders

e whispered, uncoverin

in, his breath

he said, eyes

d, the world ar

was just them,

broke the spe

ed, sharing findi

ian sat together,

ween them grew, li

d further, the

eline his hand, navi

tertwined, a jol

Adeline sa

eyes wrinkle

ped, exhausted

astic first day. Tomo

, Adeline and Se

on flowed, like

ent today?" S

ed. "Discovering that

ile mirrored h

hung in the air,

the garden's moonlit path

d from typing, step

o the garden, and

lost in

heart skip

then decided

cross the lawn, hi

tice, her eyes fi

announcing his prese

a mixture of sur

aid, sitting besid

dn't

er head. "Just

odded. "Wan

ze returned

she began. "Discoveri

. "I know exactl

touched, a spa

ice dropped

e there's more to lif

eyes locke

ou're righ

g in the air, the wor

hey understood ea

ce barely abo

thank you for choosing

wed. "You're an excell

gaze drift

t the research... o

s softened. "Wh

spilled out, lik

me. They have one goal for me: joi

ice cr

no dreams of my own. My fate'

well

else's life. My passions, my des

xpression tur

ne. You deserve to f

d her han

ou're free to exp

met his, grat

fessor Wellesle

wrapped around them

ipping with intimacy as he urged, "Call me Sebastian, Adel

ins as he continued, "I know a place that resonates deeply with the hist

and the air is alive with the whispers of the past," he t

ysteries together?" Sebastian asked, his in

he prospect of exploring the unknown with Sebastia

barely above a whisper, her wo

hivers down her spine. "Trust me, Adeline; you'll see. It's a plac

r mind, and Adeline felt herself get

r voice barely audible, her

with excitement. "I'll pick you up at dawn. Be re

ed between them, and Adeline felt her excitemen

e floated back to her room, Sebas

er, leaning against it as if

hts refused t

s of Sebastian's smile, his

dropped to a husky whisper, s

shed as she replayed

**************