Charlotte walked ahead, guiding Noel with a quiet sense of purpose. She didn't say much at first—just glanced back occasionally to make sure he was still following. The sun was already descending, dyeing the sky a pale orange. They crossed from the heart of Valon to its outer districts, where the stone roads grew thinner, the houses closer together, and the presence of noble crests disappeared.
Noel took in the change of scenery with mild surprise. "Didn't think we'd be coming all the way out here."
Charlotte smiled faintly. "Yesterday, when I was… interrupted by those men, I found something interesting. I thought this would be a good place to end our little date."
She led him down a narrow alley, then turned a corner. Before them stood a tall, cylindrical tower of smooth gray stone. It rose quietly above the surrounding buildings, somewhat hidden behind the silhouette of the nearby church. A modest sign beside the entrance read: Observatorium Sancta Lux.
"A tower?" Noel blinked.
