[table][row][cell][img]https://i.imgur.com/tbIvwoy.png[/img][/cell][cell][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/240504/7ea89157aa7490b85c1faa2a61df7e74.png[/img][/cell][/row]
[row][cell][sub]Location: Herb Shop[/sub][/cell][/row][/table]Kira moved quietly through her small herb shop in the heart of Dawnhaven, her hands deftly restocking jars of dried leaves, roots, and powders. The shop was a sanctuary of sorts, a place where she could lose herself in the simple, repetitive tasks of grinding herbs and arranging them on shelves. It reminded her of a time long past, when she was still human, hiding in plain sight under a different name, running a similar shop in a different town. 

Kira had loathed the assignment when it was first handed to her so many years ago. A top-level assassin, she had honed her skills in the most treacherous of missions, operating in the shadows where her expertise could be fully utilized. Being sent to a small village to pose as an herb shop owner felt like an insult, a waste of her talents. The mundane routine of tending to plants and dealing with townsfolk felt beneath her. But as the days turned into weeks, she found herself unexpectedly drawn to the quiet life. The rhythm of daily tasks, the scent of fresh herbs, and the simplicity of the shop offered a strange sense of peace she hadn’t known she craved. Slowly, the routine she once despised became a refuge, a place where she could momentarily forget the weight of her true identity. All that was torn away from her when the blight came, spreading its dark tendrils through the village, leaving nothing but death and decay in its wake. The fabricated life she had grown to cherish was shattered in an instant, the once-thriving village wiped out, leaving her with nothing but the bitter memory of what had been.

Eventually her thoughts drifted to Desya as she worked, his presence a constant shadow in her mind. She remembered the days when she first met him. The way his gaze had lingered on her, seemingly seeing through the layers of her disguise and igniting a spark that both thrilled and frightened her.  The memory of his closeness, of what might have been, stirred a deep ache within her. The feeling unsettled her, so she pushed it aside, focusing instead on the familiar scent of sage and lavender, the comforting ritual of tending to her shop. 

The soft chime of the bell above the door suddenly pulled Kira back to the present. Someone had entered the shop. Calmly, she wiped her hands on a nearby cloth and moved to the front of the shop, her senses sharpening as she approached.

[color=DC561E]“Welcome.”[/color] she said, her voice steady as she stepped behind the counter, her eyes immediately assessing the stranger who had just walked in. He was a man she had never seen before, tall with tousled blonde hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to cut through the dim candle light of the shop. There was something about his presence that set her on edge, an aura that radiated a subtle but unmistakable sense of danger. 

Kira narrowed her fiery orange eyes as she listened to his inquiry, scrutinizing his every move. She took note of the way he moved, the way his eyes scanned the room as if he were searching for something, the armor hidden underneath his cloak, and the way he grabbed her tools as if he were entitled to them. As he continued his monologue, Kira’s expression remained unreadable, her features settled into a calm, unflinching gaze. Her unwavering look was one that was often mistaken for indifference, or even quiet disdain.

Kira’s thoughts churned as she processed the man’s cryptic remarks. It was audacious for him to come in and poetically reference her own past—how she had once died and returned to life. She was unmistakably blight-born, while he was a human who had clearly not had the fear of blight-born instilled into him yet.  His words about the Prince biting off more than he could handle was just as daring. The man seemed to have an unsettling familiarity with strangers, and his ease in questioning the prince’s decisions made it clear that he wasn’t afraid of treading on dangerous ground. Kira couldn’t help but admire his nerve, though she thought his approach was both reckless and foolish.

[color=DC561E]“Humble gardener?”[/color] Kira arched a brow, the corners of her lips lifting ever so slightly into a smirk that made it clear she wasn't convinced. [color=DC561E]“My [i]blazing eyes[/i] see you for quite the liar.”[/color] she said bluntly, though a hint of playful amusement danced in her gaze now. [color=DC561E]“I’ve never seen a gardener so armored before.”[/color]

Despite the directness of her words, her demeanor remained cool and nonchalant. She leaned a hip against the counter, exuding an effortless calm. [color=DC561E]“I’m Kira,”[/color] she continued, her tone smooth and indifferent. [color=DC561E]“And what is your name, [i]humble gardener[/i]?”[/color] She watched him with an almost casual curiosity, making it clear that while she saw through his facade, she had no intention of prying further. After all, everyone had their secrets, and who was she to dig into another's life?


[hr]

[sub][b]Interactions:[/b] Gadez [@Dezuel][/sub]