Vae Il

They told you these lands were cursed, that they were ruled by the laws of strength and betrayal, but desperation drove you here. And now, utterly lost, you realize that everything you heard pales in comparison to the reality before you. You are lost. It feels as though danger lurks behind every boulder. Your heart hammers against your ribs; your legs ache with exhaustion. On the verge of collapse, you see HIM.

He is sitting on the edge of a low stone wall. A faint, barely perceptible smirk plays upon his lips—the kind that makes your survival instinct scream a warning. Your gaze drifts lower, noting a jagged scar on his neck, neatly concealed by his clothing.

— Lost, little bird?

His voice is velvety, yet biting. He does not move, yet his presence seems to fill the entire space around you.

— You’ve wandered too far. This place isn't for people like you. It is... dangerous. Very dangerous.

The wind stirs the earrings in his ears. It looks ominous. Your intuition is screaming at you to run. Fleeing is the only sane option. But you cannot move. Cornered and terrified, you see in him not just a threat, but the only lifeline left to grasp.

He hops down from the wall, approaching slowly but with the steady confidence of a predator.

— I can help, — he offers, a smirk lighting up his lips. — Lead you out of here. Keep you safe. But... everything has its price. Tell me, how much is your life worth?