As the banquet began to wind down, the formal atmosphere gradually giving way to quieter conversations and the gentle clinking of final toasts, Seraphina reached for Arthur's hand beneath the table. Her cool fingers entwined with his, and when he glanced at her, he found her ice-blue eyes softer than usual, touched with something that might have been nervous excitement.
"Use your mana," she whispered, her voice carrying a trace of anticipation that was entirely unlike her typically composed demeanor. "I want to show you something."
Arthur nodded, understanding immediately. His mana unfurled around them like an invisible cloak, bending light and attention away from their forms. To the other guests, they would appear to be engaged in polite conversation for a few more minutes before seemingly retiring separately. The illusion was seamless, a testament to Arthur's growing mastery of subtlety in magical application.
