Mela stared, her mouth slightly open, her mind was completely blank.
'he didn't just fight it,' she thought, 'he dissected it.'
this was not the reckless brawling she had grown used to; this was the cold, efficient work of a predator. she was terrified, a feeling she did not like at all, she wanted to go home.
Serian felt a deep sadness, a mourning for the angry, confused boy who was being replaced by this cold thing. he looked like Nox, but he did not feel like him. this was an empty shell, a weapon that had forgotten it was ever a person.
Nox saw their fear, but it didn't register as something to be concerned about; it was just inefficient data. they were wasting time, and time was a resource.
"we need to move," he said, his voice flat, already turning toward the spire.
he dismissed the dead gem, letting it fall from his hand and clatter onto the pile of rocks.
"nox, wait," Serian called out, her voice a little shaky. "are you... are you okay?"
