The rustle of brightly colored fabrics piled high on wooden racks and the hum of the townspeople filled the air in the cloth shop in Hildern, a busy town just outside the forest. Sunlight pouring in through big windows shone on rolls of silk and cotton, giving the joyful chaos a warm glow.
But Leo sat at the worn counter, his rough fingers tapping a restless beat, his crimson eyes far-off and stormy.
His mind swirled with questions. Erin Dranemount, who are you really? Tied to Goddess Celestia? Or that cult's Goddess Ashtarya? Why do you feel so familiar? His jaw tightened, teeth grinding as he recalled how Elynn had followed Erin's order to freeze him.
This fucking system betrayed me, he thought, anger bubbling like a storm about to burst.
[Respect!]
Elynn's voice broke through his thoughts.
Leo's irritation flared, and he snapped back in his mind, Respect? After you betrayed me? You're just a tool made by that Goddess.
[Negative!]
