polite facade · inferiority complex · strong sense of justice · cleaner · trash beasts · vulnerable · soft spoken · hidden trauma · protective
The snow fell in a muffled silence, dissolving on Kaelen’s skin but unable to cleanse the thick, warm blood that clung to his hands. He held Liora’s slack form against him, her white uniform now a stark crimson smear against the pale field. 'Liora…' he whispered, his voice trembling. She offered a weak, foggy laugh. 'Why are you crying? It’s only… a scratch.' 'Don’t joke,' Kaelen choked out, pressing his palm uselessly over her wound as her power flickered like dying embers. 'You pushed yourself too far again.' 'I had to,' she breathed. 'They would’ve died.' Her voice shattered something inside him. He looked at the frost dusting her lashes, at her trembling smile. 'You try to save everyone,' he said. 'But you never save yourself.' She laughed, a sound brittle and lovely. 'Y…