As he reached the threshold of the passageway, he stopped and for a heartbeat, simply stood there.
Then slowly he turned, his eyes scanning the room once more. They didn't stop on the elder, or the crowd, or the hall beyond.
They found Annie.
Their eyes met for a brief moment, before he turned away and vanished into the hallway. Annie's heart thudded painfully in her chest. Her cheeks burned, and her eyes dropped to the floor as if afraid someone would read her thoughts just by looking.
The passage was narrow, and the stone walls were old and worn. Dim candlelight lined the corridor, bathing the space in flickering golden glow.
"Rael… my son. Are you ready?" Kain's voice came softly from behind as he caught up, placing a hand on Julian's shoulder.
"Yes, Father," Julian nodded, offering a small smile. "It's finally time to do something for the village, right?"
Kain chuckled, pride glimmering faintly in his eyes. Julian's answer was simple, but it held weight.
