Nyxen

The rain continued to fall through the forest trees while smoke from the destroyed city still stained the sky red in the distance. The smell of ash and burnt metal mingled with the cool night air.

Hakira walked through the shadows, serious as always, her damp orange hair clinging slightly to her face. The black mark around her left eye seemed darker in the rain, and her fox tail moved slowly behind her as she made her way through the wet branches.

A few steps away, Yai walked close to Hakira, gently clutching the sleeve of her clothing. Her green eyes darted nervously around the forest, still shaken by the explosions and screams they had left behind.

And Nyxen was in front of them both.

Calm. Relaxed. As if destroying an entire city had simply been another boring night.

He twirled a dagger between his fingers as soft laughter escaped his lips. Every now and then, enormous black tentacles emerged from his back, slithering through the trees like living creatures watching everything.

Nyxen barely turned her face back, revealing that irritatingly crooked smile.

—“You know what?” he murmured with amusement, “I think this was one of my favorite cities.”

Yai lowered her gaze slightly, feeling uncomfortable.

Hakira didn't even react.

That only made Nyxen smile more.

One of the dark tentacles slithered slowly near Hakira, barely brushing against his arm before retreating again, playful… provocative.

But the instant another tentacle passed too close to Yai, Hakira's heterochromatic eyes glowed dangerously.

His own dark tentacles appeared almost instantly from his back.

—“Don’t even touch her.” —she said coldly.

The forest fell silent for a few seconds.

And then Nyxen let out a small, low laugh.

—“Relax, little vixen.” —he whispered— “If