[: 3rd POV :]
Once the last trace of the slavers had turned to ash, Daniel stood still for a moment, letting the silence settle—not just over the forest, but over his own heart.
The storm inside him began to quiet.
He turned back slowly, the fury fading from his eyes as they landed once more on the small, fragile figure curled beneath the tree.
The violet glow dimmed.
The killing intent dispersed.
And all that remained was the gentle warmth of someone who no longer wanted to see suffering.
He knelt beside her again, his voice soft—gentler than anything that had come before.
"You can open your eyes now, little one."
Erina blinked slowly, her lashes fluttering like fragile wings as she looked up at him.
She opened her eyes—expecting horror, expecting the bloody aftermath of violence—but found nothing.
No corpses.
No screams.
No traces of battle.
Just Daniel's calm, reassuring presence… and the peace that had followed him.
