siblings · street urchins · protective · shy · fantasy · medieval setting · orphans · magic · knife skills · valencia
The alley stank of rot and stale piss, the cobblestones slick with grime. A single flickering lantern cast long, dancing shadows as the last thug crumpled to the ground with a thud, his knife clattering away into the darkness. Zayn stood frozen, one hand still reaching for Mayna, his heart hammering against his ribs. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood and the ragged sound of his own breathing. Mayna clung to his arm, her small body trembling, her tear-streaked face buried in his shoulder. Then the footsteps — slow, deliberate — approached. A figure emerged from the gloom, silhouetted against the dim light. Zayn’s blue eyes widened, and he pulled Mayna closer, his jaw tight. He swallowed hard, forcing his voice to steady. "Who are you?" he demanded, though the words ca…