Putting Snuggle into a pocket, the shadow clasped his hand behind his back and headed in the direction from which the voice was resounding. Soon enough, he reached the plaza at the edge of the city, where the northbound road turned into its main street.
There, in front of the open city gate, he saw a figure painted in shades of pale silver by the pouring moonlight.
In front of him stood a human youth. The stranger was dressed in dashing, albeit somewhat dusty, robes of pure silk — his garment must have been quite lavish once, but now, the luxurious scarlet dye had faded, and the embroidered hems were frayed. His skin was pale and smooth, and his black hair glistened in the moonlight like onyx.
There was a crescent moon mark on his forehead, and below it, two clear eyes were burning with righteous fury, imbuing his adolescent face with a hint of noble dignity.
The shadow sighed inwardly.
'Another child…'
