Kael remained seated among the children, their laughter echoing through the chamber like sunlight bouncing off stone. Their joy was simple and pure, a rare sound in his world. He couldn't help but smile as he watched them, their innocence untouched by the dark truths that shaped his own path.
A little girl with golden hair finally stood and introduced herself, her voice proud and clear.
"My name is Rimaly," she said, then turned and pointed at the others one by one. "That's Elora, Vinael, and Nissa."
She shifted to the boys. "And those are Erwin, Zeyron, Nevar, and… um, Taymel."
Kael nodded, repeating the names in his head, imprinting them carefully. After a moment of silence, a slight doubt crept into his voice.
"Weren't there more of you yesterday?"
Rimaly chuckled lightly.
"Yes, but we only stay here for a little while. Once the black blood settles inside us and we're no longer dangerous, we can return to our families."
