Scene 1 – In the Predator's Shadow
The storm ended with silence.
The golden blaze that had swallowed Jemil and Kaelina collapsed into a thousand drifting sparks, each one hovering in the endless void like embers that refused to die.
Jemil staggered forward, his lungs burning. Every breath carried fire, every heartbeat sent agony tearing through his chest where the mark blazed. The golden chains across his body were no longer just faint—now they were carved into his skin like molten brands.
Kaelina dropped to one knee, her blade trembling in her grip. She wasn't bleeding, but she looked as though she had fought through years of war in mere moments. Her spirit ached, her vow felt raw, scraped thin by the predator's relentless whispers.
And then—the voice came again.
You defied me. You clung to vows. You struck at chains instead of flesh. Bold… but foolish.
