Synn remained motionless for a moment, still with her back to Paige. The steam from the tea began to rise in the air, but something in her unseen expression seemed to harden. Slowly, she turned her face toward Paige.
And then, her left eye began to glow.
A pink energy with violet sparks burst from her eye socket, dancing like a tiny living spark.
Synn:You're in the Underground… the home of monsters, as you humans call us.
Her voice was deeper, graver… different from before.
Paige instinctively leaned back in her chair. The tone, the look, the unfamiliar energy… it all sent a chill racing down her spine. Her hands clutched the edge of the seat, and her body began to tremble.
Paige:Ek!
Fear returned in an instant, like a dark wave crashing over all logic.
Synn immediately noticed the shift in Paige's face.
The fear.
The girl trembled, her wide eyes fixed on the glow from that socket, sparkling with unknown power. Synn realized at once what she had done. The light in her eye faded instantly, vanishing as if it had never been there.
And without thinking, she ran to her.
Her bones creaked rapidly as she moved, and she dropped to her knees beside the human—agitated, desperate.
Synn:I'm sorry, Paige. I didn't mean to scare you.
She said it with a trembling voice, almost on the verge of panic. The tone was completely different from before—no longer deep or confident, but broken, afraid of having caused harm.
Paige didn't answer. She continued to shake, hugging herself tightly, trying not to collapse again.
Then, Synn moved even closer… and hugged her.
She wrapped her skeletal arms around her—gently, awkwardly, but with visible sincerity. There was no threat in her gesture, only a silent plea.
A request for forgiveness.