Seraphine carried Kana carefully through a winding series of narrow tunnels, her robes brushing against the damp stone walls as the faint echoes of their footsteps filled the silence.
The further they went, the thicker the air became, as though the very earth was holding its breath, guarding this place from the world above.
At last, Seraphine reached a concealed chamber hidden behind an illusionary wall—a secret sanctuary she rarely allowed anyone to enter.
She placed Kana down gently on a soft, velvet-covered bed tucked into the corner of the room.
For a moment, Seraphine lingered, crouching beside Kana, her fingers brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.
Her crimson eyes studied the girl silently, searching for something she couldn't quite name.
It was strange. Seraphine had stolen, tricked, and manipulated countless people before, but none of them made her hesitate like this.
Kana lay perfectly still, her breathing shallow and even, feigning unconsciousness.
