mon Who

he demon's eyes-how they glowed like burning coals beneath storm clouds. Nor

outine. She boiled herbs, mixed salves, and offered cures to the sick. But at night, he

a one-time encoun

was

-

mbers. Liora walked cautiously, basket in hand, her pale cloak swaying around her ankles. She wa

felt heav

he moon shone high above, drenching the world in pea

nmistakable presence. Not

s at night?" she called softly.

curled around

older," came th

e shoulder with a silver clasp shaped like a serpent. Beneath it, his tunic was high-necked and embroidered with f

tching me,

thout shame. "You've b

he way he said the word, lik

" she

f you're incredibly brave

d blue silk, the hood pushed back to reveal the messily pinned braid that crowned her he

ed. "It says

ied, like a predator th

id quietly. "Even my name i

d, meeting his gaze. "And I

sho

ng, but his voice held

d on her basket. "Then w

"Perhaps I'm not the

not the threat

sheathed at his side-dark, jagged, and humming faintly with energy. His hair glinted silver

re," he said. "My kind would se

ked, voice barely

until there was barel

. someth

could smell the faint scent of scorched ced

ded, but this time it sounded

essed. "I kept thinking... w

r a heartbeat, his face softene

N

truth-but it hung

aven cawed sharply. The m

ly, his gaze hardening

see yo

pa

e promises I

But even as he vanished, the warmth of his presence linger