At dusk, Mara crossed the narrow bridge, hearing the water below answer each step with a small, shifting sound. The imagined House of Tidal Glass opened around its pool: warm stone beneath her hand, curved panes holding the last grey of day. In the green blackjack salon, voices stayed close and gestures careful. Beyond it, the roulette room gathered strangers into an easy ring, their talk stirring across rippled reflections. The pale baccarat salon drew conversation down to pauses and glances. In a separate poker room, a candid murmur passed between companions; the luminous arcade kept a quieter rhythm for those who preferred their own company. Later, Mara climbed to a room beneath the conservatory ribs. Supper waited beside stone and water, clear broth followed by crisp greens and a gently smoky finish. The pool’s light, once a welcome, had become a soft afterimage at rest.