(Same with Luna sketch I sketched what kai would look like I COMPLETLY fracked up the eyes so don't pay attention to that pls and thank you) ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ
15Please respect copyright.PENANApJF9bGsdqq
*I gasped, barely able to comprehend what had just occurred. The air was thick with tension as Sir Augustine's body lay motionless in the dirt, blood pooling around him. I stared at the mysterious man, eyes wide, my body trembling in shock and pain from the whipping. Who was he? And why had he saved me? *
The man's piercing gaze softened slightly as he reached out a hand to me. "Get up," he said, his voice low but commanding.
I hesitated, my mind racing. What would happen now? I had seen him, and he had killed a slave owner in broad daylight. This wasn't just a simple rescue—it was rebellion. And in this city, rebellion meant death.
"I... I can't," I stammered, my limbs still weak from the beating. "Who are you? Why did you do that?"
The man pulled me up to my feet with surprising gentleness. "There's no time for questions. They'll come soon. You either run now, or you'll die like him." He gestured to Sir Augustine's lifeless body.
My instincts screamed at me to run. But something held me in place—a strange feeling of connection to this man I had only just met. Before I could speak again, shouts erupted from the distance. Guards. Augustine's men. They must have already been searching for him.
"Move!" the man urged, tugging me along as they slipped into the shadows of the narrow city streets. I followed, my heart pounding.
*As they fled deeper into the city, I caught glimpses of my surroundings: unfamiliar back alleys and darkened streets I had never ventured into before. I had lived in the city of Wolves for years, but I had never felt so lost within its walls. *
*After what felt like hours, they finally stopped in a hidden corner near the city's edge. The man turned to me, his sharp features illuminated by a flickering torch in the distance. *
"You've been a slave for too long," he said quietly. "But if you want to stay free, you need to make a choice. Come with me or go back to the life you know."
I swallowed hard, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and fear. But deep down, something stirred—an anger, a desire for freedom I had buried for so long. I looked up at him, and my decision was already made.
(Kai enhanced and detailed using photoshop)
"Who are you?" I asked again, this time with a steady voice.
The man's eyes narrowed, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "My name is Kai. And I've come to tear this city apart."
*My breath caught in my throat as Kael's words hung in the air. Tear the city apart? The weight of what he said pressed against my chest. The city of Wolves had always felt like an unbreakable fortress—a cage that bound me yet also protected me from a world I barely remembered. But now, that cage seemed fragile, like glass on the verge of shattering. *
I glanced at the distant city walls, their towering presence looming over the landscape. Could I really leave? Could I run from everything I had known—however cruel it had been—and trust this stranger who had just turned my life upside down?
The shouts of guards grew louder in the distance, bringing Luna back to the moment. There was no time for hesitation.
"Why should I trust you?" I demanded, my voice sharp, though my legs trembled beneath me.
"You've killed a man, and now you expect me to follow you into the unknown?"
*Kai studied her momentarily, his face unreadable in the dim light. Then, without warning, he pulled back the sleeve of his coat, revealing a long scar that ran from his wrist to his elbow—a slave brand, much like her own, now disfigured by a blade. *
"I've been where you are," he said quietly, his voice carrying a weight of unspoken pain.
"And I've escaped it. You're not the only one who wants to be free. But freedom comes at a price. And that price is rebellion."
My gaze flickered to the scar, my mind racing with questions I had no time to ask. Could it really be possible? Could someone like me truly escape this life? The temptation tugged at me, mingling with the fear of what would happen if I stayed.
Kai's voice broke through her thoughts once more.
"I don't care what you believe. But if you stay here, they'll find you—and you'll wish they had killed you alongside him." He jerked his head in the direction of Sir Augustine's body, now just a distant memory in the labyrinth of alleys they had escaped through.
I took a deep breath, every muscle in my body aching from the beating I had endured. I could still feel the sting of Augustine's whip on my back, the humiliation of being stripped of my dignity in the center of the city. But now, with Kai in front of me, a new fire burned in my chest. I wasn't going back. Not to the fields, not to the endless work cycles, not to the hands of another monster like Augustine.
"Where do we go?" I asked, voice low but filled with determination.
Kai's smirk returned, though it was tinged with something darker. "First, we get you out of this city. Then, we find the others."
"Others?" my eyes narrowed.
This wasn't just about me, or Kai. There were more people involved—more slaves, perhaps, or those oppressed by the city's ruling class.
Kai nodded.
"There's a resistance. Scattered across the city and beyond. We're not strong enough yet, but with someone like you—someone Augustine prized—your knowledge of the city and its workings could tip the scales."
I stared at him, the full gravity of his words settling over me. I was more than just a slave to Kai—I was a piece of a much larger game. The thought was terrifying but also exhilarating.
In the distance, the sound of boots echoed closer, and Kai's expression hardened.
"There's no more time for talking. If you're coming, we leave now."
I nodded, stepping forward without another word. I didn't know where this path would take me—what dangers lay ahead—but I knew one thing for sure: I wasn't going back to being a slave.
As we continued to dodge city guards looking for us strategically, I couldn't help but glance at the city of Wolves from the shadows. Let it burn, I thought. Let it all burn.
___________________________________________
-To be Continued
(Kai final edit and colored using photoshop)
15Please respect copyright.PENANAylEjxG9ECC