An oppressive silence settled over the two of them once more. The night sea breeze blew stronger, carrying a sharp scent of salt and the sound of crashing waves continuously beating against the distant rocks. Nathan stared intently at Velmora. The snake-woman's question was more than a mere expression of doubt; it was a cry of terror from a mother fearing for her child's future in a world foreign to her.
Nathan clenched his hands resting on his knees. His thoughts drifted far back to his old life—the life of an ordinary young man who used to worry about nothing more than college deadlines, video games, and a dull social life. Back then, the thought of having a child with a red-scaled tail would have felt like a nightmare or an absurd joke. But now, he was no longer the old Nathan.
"Velmora," Nathan called out, his voice quiet yet firm.
