"Ouch…"
Aether sat beside Maelona on the bed, gently holding her leg, his brows knitting together as he took in the dark, slimy texture of her skin. It was as if something had been drained straight from her body, leaving her looking eerily lifeless in that spot.
"Is it painful?" Aether asked, his voice softer than usual.
His fingers lightly traced over her skin, and Maelona winced, her body tensing from the touch. But instead of admitting the pain, she quickly shook her head. "No…" she muttered, though her voice wavered slightly.
Of course, it stung—it burned, even—but she bit her tongue, refusing to let the words slip out.
She had barely escaped when something dragged her into the bed. Even after managing to break free, she found herself completely paralyzed, her body frozen in fear. She had remained in the corner, unable to move, unable to speak, until Aether arrived… and everything else that followed was a blur.
