The village square was alive with noise when Kael and Lysera arrived. Merchants shouted their wares, children darted between stalls, and the scent of roasted meat mingled with the sharp tang of iron from the blacksmith's forge. For Lysera, it was overwhelming. She had once looked down upon mortal gatherings from the heavens, hearing their prayers rise like smoke. Now she stood among them, anonymous, her heart racing at the press of bodies and voices.
Kael walked beside her, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword. He was used to such places, though he kept his eyes sharp, scanning for danger. He noticed how the villagers looked at Lysera. Their gazes lingered, drawn to her beauty, to the strange aura that seemed to cling to her. She carried herself with a grace that no mortal woman could easily mimic.
Lysera felt their stares and lowered her gaze, uncomfortable. She had tried to hide her presence, to blend in, but it was impossible. Even stripped of divinity, something about her shone through.
Kael noticed too, and a flicker of protectiveness stirred in him. He had seen men glance at her with hunger, and women whisper with suspicion. He did not like it.
They stopped at a stall where a merchant sold bread and dried fruit. Lysera reached for a loaf, but the merchant's eyes narrowed. "You," he said, voice sharp. "Strange things happen when you pass. Flowers bloom where none should. Shadows flee from your steps. What are you? Are you a witch?
Lysera froze, panic rising. She could not answer. Not yet. Kael stepped forward, his voice firm. "She is a traveler. Nothing more." The merchant sneered. "Travelers do not carry such signs. Beware, knight. She is cursed."
Lysera's chest tightened. The word cut deep. Cursed. That was what the gods had called her when they cast her down.
Kael's jaw clenched. He placed coins on the stall and took the bread. "We will be on our way."
As they walked, Lysera's hands trembled. "They see it," she whispered. "They know something is wrong." Kael looked at her, his voice softer now. "They see only what they do not understand. Fear makes mortals cruel."
She met his gaze, and for a moment, the noise of the square faded. His eyes held hers, steady and unwavering. He did not look at her with suspicion or hunger. He looked at her with something she had not felt in years. Trust. But trust was fragile.
As they left the square, a group of men blocked their path. Their leader, tall and broad-shouldered, smirked. "The merchant is right. You are no ordinary woman. And you, knight, guard her too closely. What is she to you?"
Kael's hand tightened on his sword. "Step aside."
The man laughed. "Or what? You will fight us all? For her?" His eyes slid to Lysera, lingering. "She is beautiful, I will grant you that. Perhaps too beautiful. Perhaps she belongs to us."
Lysera's breath caught. Fear surged, but beneath it, anger burned. She wanted to summon light, to drive them back, but she forced it down. Her secret must remain hidden.
Kael stepped forward, his voice low and dangerous. "She belongs to no one. Least of all you."
The men drew blades.
The fight was swift. Kael moved with precision, his sword flashing in arcs of steel. He struck, parried, and drove them back, his body a storm of motion. Lysera watched, breathless, as he fought not only with skill but with fury, as if every strike was a vow to protect her.
One man lunged toward Lysera. She stumbled back, heart racing. Kael turned, his blade cutting the attacker down before he reached her. He was before her, chest heaving, eyes blazing.
The remaining men fled, cursing.
Silence fell. Lysera looked at Kael, her chest tight. His hair clung to his forehead, sweat glistening on his skin. His eyes met hers, and in that moment, she saw not only a knight but a man who would fight the world for her.
Kael looked at her too, and the pull he had felt before surged stronger. She was beautiful, yes, but it was more than that. She was radiant, untouchable, yet fragile in ways that made him ache. He wanted to protect her, not because she was helpless, but because she mattered.
Lysera lowered her gaze, hiding the warmth that spread through her chest. She could not let him see. Not yet. Her secret was too dangerous.
They left the village, the road stretching before them once more. The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken words.
Finally, Kael spoke. "They will not be the last. Wherever we go, people will notice you. They will see what I see." Lysera's voice trembled. "And what do you see?" Kael hesitated, then said softly, "Someone worth protecting."
Her breath caught. She wanted to tell him the truth, to confess who she was, but fear held her back. Not yet. Not until the time was right.
The firelight of evening fell across them as they walked. Their shoulders brushed once, lightly, and both felt the spark. Neither spoke of it, but both carried it in their hearts.