The first light of dawn slipped delicately through the gauzy curtains of the Lilycove Grand Hotel, casting soft, golden streaks across the pale cream walls. The sunlight danced gently over the room's elegant furnishings, illuminating them with a quiet, ethereal glow. Serena stirred beneath the covers, her breathing slow and even, until the haze of slumber began to lift. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the soft morning light as her surroundings gradually sharpened into clarity.

The low, consistent hum of the air conditioner filled the otherwise tranquil space, a steady backdrop to the distant, echoing cries of Wingull gliding along the coast. Outside, the city of Lilycove was just beginning to stir—shops not yet open, the ocean breeze still cool with the last whispers of night.