Esme's POV
"I don't like it," Eidrin whispered.
Neither did I.
My hand remained around Sora.
We just stared at the shadows, waiting for what would come out because it wouldn't make sense for any of us to go looking for it.
The trees shifted and not from wind but from movement. My breathing hitched as a figure stepped out slowly from the shadows.
It was a man, and Eidrin stepped forward. The figure was tall, oddly still, and just watched us.
Eidrin moved fully in front of me now, his presence like a wall, his mana pressing outward in warning.
"That's not one of ours," he said quietly.
The figure didn't respond or move closer. He just stood there, observing us. And somehow, that felt worse than coming to lunge at us as I'd easily fear.
I tightened my grip on Sora's hand, my eyes fixed on the stranger as a single thought echoed through my mind—
This wasn't a coincidence. I felt threatened.
It came here for me.
Then they spoke. "Miss Esmeralda."
