[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: Hot Springs[/sub][/cell][/row][/table]As Orion stepped in front of her, Kira’s fiery orange eyes stayed locked on the nobleman, her glare searing as she continued to bare her fangs. Ayel’s face was flushed, red with both fury and embarrassment, his trembling body betraying his barely-contained rage. His eyes locked with hers, and Kira could see he was on the verge of exploding, his arrogance fueling whatever bravery he thought he had. For a moment, she considered striking first, ending it quicker than he could even raise a fist.

But then her gaze shifted to Orion, the wall of muscle now standing between her and the nobleman. His crimson eyes met hers, calm yet firm, silently urging her to back down. His posture was commanding, as if he intended to intercept any blow she might try to deliver. 

Kira narrowed her eyes, the tension tightening in her muscles as her mind weighed the odds. She knew Orion was no pushover; he was trained, capable of handling himself, and put in a position close to the Prince for a reason. While she had the power to easily handle the sniveling Aurelian behind him, going through Orion would be a different fight altogether—a fight she wasn’t eager to start. 

Kira’s lips twitched, pulling her fangs back ever so slightly as she reined in her desire to lash out. She could feel the heat of her anger simmering under her skin, her instincts screaming for her to rip into the nobleman’s throat anyway. Who would even miss him? 

Without saying a word, Kira forcibly tucked her animalistic side deep within. It fought to keep itself on the surface, clawing at her insides, but she was stronger—for now. The fight wasn’t worth it.

Her eyes flicked back to the buffoon behind the wall of muscle for a moment. Clearly, he was completely unaware that Orion had likely saved his little miserable life. Luckily for him, Kira had respect for Orion—and she had no intentions on getting kicked out of this safe haven.

Watching Ayel begin to fumble around, Kira’s expression dripped with disdain. The nobleman was a spectacle of delusion, drenched and babbling to himself about Aelios as he ascended the stairs. Had he hit his head during the fall? 

Unsurprisingly, the pampered fool couldn’t even walk without stumbling into a wooden post. Kira’s lip curled into a faint smirk, her eyes still narrowed. It was too bad he hadn’t hit the post hard enough to knock himself out. 

Hearing Sya begin to sob again, Kira glanced at her and shifted uncomfortably, unused to such raw vulnerability. Thankfully, the snake woman began to gravitate to the Priestess for an embrace. Sya’s emotional unraveling was far too much for Kira to handle in an appropriate manner. At least Tia would have a soothing presence, something Kira knew she didn’t have.

Sympathy did manage to stir in her chest as Sya explained how she had been treated for being a blight-born, though. Kira knew all too well what it was like to be treated as less than human for simply existing as they were. Truthfully, however, she hadn’t protected Sya out of pure compassion. Her instinct had been to put that insufferable noble in his place. The entitled, arrogant way he had spoken and looked down upon Sya had opened old wounds within Kira, igniting anger in whatever was left of her soul.  Still, the outcome had been good for Sya, and that was something, at least.

Trying to distance herself from Sya’s emotions, Kira’s eyes found Ayel again, her eyes following him as he darted behind a tree. Confusion settled on her face as he attempted to hide, yet stood out like a sore thumb. How daft could one person be? It would have been a mercy to put him out of his misery. It almost seemed cruel to continue letting him fail through life like this. Obviously, the only thing he had going for him was his family name. It was sad, really. 

[color=DC561E] “Pathetic.”[/color] Kira muttered to herself, shaking her head as she followed Ayel’s gaze to see what it was that he was hiding from. Another blight born had appeared at the top of the stairs, her eyes set on Tia. Kira glanced at the Priestess, who seemed to recognize the blonde woman too. 

Annoyingly, the hot springs were becoming far too active for Kira’s liking. The peace she had been seeking was utterly shattered. 

Letting out a quiet, frustrated breath, she willed herself to calm down. No matter how much she would have liked to put Ayel out of his misery, it wasn’t the time or the place. She had to be on her best behavior here. For now, she would do as Orion asked. 

Shifting her gaze to him, Kira raised a curious brow, taken off guard by the faint hint of smile lingering on his lips. She had rarely seen him display much of any emotion, let alone fighting back a smile or a laugh. Somehow, the sight of it was endearing, softening the serious edge he usually carried himself with. It felt like a rare peek behind the walls he hid himself behind, and it was oddly disarming. 

At Orion’s remark, Kira smirked, her gaze flicking back to Ayel who still pitifully attempted to hide behind the thin tree. [color=DC561E]“You’re right. Too boring.”[/color] she agreed, her voice carrying a quiet but playful edge now.

Behind Orion, Kira noticed the Priestess beginning to ascend the stairs to approach the blonde woman. Briefly, she glanced at Sya, wondering if her mental breakdown had finally subsided and if she would—[i]hopefully[/i]—leave Kira in peace here. Or at least share the alcohol. 

Taking one final look at Ayel, she watched him peek around the tree trunk and narrowed her eyes again. [color=DC561E]“May the next puddle drown him.”[/color] She whispered with cold disdain, only partially joking as she returned her attention to Orion. 

She could feel the knot of frustration in her chest loosen, almost as if Orion’s dry humor had helped to ease the tension that had built there. Now the only person still inside the hotspring, Kira let out a slow breath and sank down until the warm water reached her shoulders, her fiery eyes still fixated on Orion. 

For the past two months, she had always known who he was. It was hard not to, given his closeness to the Prince. People spoke of him, fascinated by his stand-offish aura. Humans were scared of him, she could tell. And what better protector for the Prince than to have someone people were scared of without having to lift a finger? 

Surprisingly, he had a calming presence she hadn’t expected, and humor she hadn’t realized he was capable of. From the outside perspective he had only been stoic, emotionless, quiet and unreachable. Then again, was she much different?

[color=DC561E]“By the way,”[/color] she said casually from her seated position in the steaming water. [color=DC561E]“I’m Kira.”[/color]

[hr]

[sub][b]Interactions:[/b] Orion [@Qia]
[b]Mentions:[/b] Ranni [@Queen Arya], Sya [@PrinceAlexus], Ayel [@Dezuel], Tia [@c3p-0h][/sub]