Ciochini Cuisi strode hesitantly into the oppressive gloom of an isolated clearing near Davae.
The surrounding trees formed a menacing enclosure, their gnarled branches seeming to close in on him like the claws of terrifying monsters.
Every rustle of leaf, every crack of twig beneath his feet echoed in the nocturnal silence, amplifying his growing anxiety.
The air was heavy and laden with humidity, making his breathing labored and accentuating the clamminess of his skin already covered in cold sweat.
In the center of the clearing, a hooded figure awaited him, motionless and impassive.
Sagaritis's pale glow filtered through the foliage, partially revealing a tattooed face with hard, inexpressive features.
When she spoke, her pronounced rocky accent cut through the silence like a sharp blade.
- Did you bring what we asked for?
Ciochini Cuisi swallowed hard, feeling his throat dry and knotted with fear.
His hands trembled violently as he held out a folder, aware that the slightest misstep could seal his fate.
The homine seized it without a word, breaking the seal with a precise gesture to check the contents.
- Good," she murmured after a moment. You've done your part.
Ciochini Cuisi tried to control the tremor in his voice, but it betrayed his latent terror.
- So... that's it? My debt's forgiven?
The hominin slowly raised her eyes to his, her piercing gaze piercing him through and through, as if probing the depths of his soul.
- For the time being. But remember, Ser Ciochini Cuisi, the Shadows have a long memory.
Don't give us a reason to come back and see you.
An icy shiver ran down the Ore Altae employee's spine.
As his mind raced, he imagined the dire consequences of another encounter with this hominid or her kind.
He nodded frantically, instinctively taking a step back, as if to put some distance between himself and this thinly veiled threat.
With a sneer of contempt on her lips, she looked Ciochini Cuisi up and down.
In a sharp voice, she blurted out:
- Gey-gey-zakun, la-gey-zas urkyan, get out, you make me puke.
The homin felt his stomach knot.
The idea of turning his back on this homine petrified him.
He backed away slowly, his gaze fixed on her, looking for a sign of leniency that was nowhere to be seen.
Shadows danced around them, accentuating the unknown woman's menacing aura.
Under the pressure of her piercing gaze and growing anxiety, he felt his legs wobble.
Panic gripped him, and he was unable to bear the unbearable tension any longer.
He turned and ran, stumbling in his haste to leave the oppressive clearing that seemed intent on engulfing him.
All the while knowing that, despite this frantic race, he could never really escape the shadows that now pursued him.
The surrounding trees formed a menacing enclosure, their gnarled branches seeming to close in on him like the claws of terrifying monsters.
Every rustle of leaf, every crack of twig beneath his feet echoed in the nocturnal silence, amplifying his growing anxiety.
The air was heavy and laden with humidity, making his breathing labored and accentuating the clamminess of his skin already covered in cold sweat.
In the center of the clearing, a hooded figure awaited him, motionless and impassive.
Sagaritis's pale glow filtered through the foliage, partially revealing a tattooed face with hard, inexpressive features.
When she spoke, her pronounced rocky accent cut through the silence like a sharp blade.
- Did you bring what we asked for?
Ciochini Cuisi swallowed hard, feeling his throat dry and knotted with fear.
His hands trembled violently as he held out a folder, aware that the slightest misstep could seal his fate.
The homine seized it without a word, breaking the seal with a precise gesture to check the contents.
- Good," she murmured after a moment. You've done your part.
Ciochini Cuisi tried to control the tremor in his voice, but it betrayed his latent terror.
- So... that's it? My debt's forgiven?
The hominin slowly raised her eyes to his, her piercing gaze piercing him through and through, as if probing the depths of his soul.
- For the time being. But remember, Ser Ciochini Cuisi, the Shadows have a long memory.
Don't give us a reason to come back and see you.
An icy shiver ran down the Ore Altae employee's spine.
As his mind raced, he imagined the dire consequences of another encounter with this hominid or her kind.
He nodded frantically, instinctively taking a step back, as if to put some distance between himself and this thinly veiled threat.
With a sneer of contempt on her lips, she looked Ciochini Cuisi up and down.
In a sharp voice, she blurted out:
- Gey-gey-zakun, la-gey-zas urkyan, get out, you make me puke.
The homin felt his stomach knot.
The idea of turning his back on this homine petrified him.
He backed away slowly, his gaze fixed on her, looking for a sign of leniency that was nowhere to be seen.
Shadows danced around them, accentuating the unknown woman's menacing aura.
Under the pressure of her piercing gaze and growing anxiety, he felt his legs wobble.
Panic gripped him, and he was unable to bear the unbearable tension any longer.
He turned and ran, stumbling in his haste to leave the oppressive clearing that seemed intent on engulfing him.
All the while knowing that, despite this frantic race, he could never really escape the shadows that now pursued him.