Reconnaissance

Mariah paid no heed to his protests, her piercing gaze unrelenting as she carefully examined the new wounds that marred his flesh. The sight of him, broken and battered, stirred up a fierce mixture of emotions within her. His pain hung thick in the air between them, suffocating in its intensity. A lump formed in her throat, a silent testament to her helplessness in shielding him from the horrors he had faced and was still facing. She took a deep breath, the cool air searing her lungs as she gathered her thoughts and formed her words with painstaking care.

The word "Caedes" hung in the air like a weighted promise, spoken by Mariah in a voice barely above a whisper. The deafening silence of destruction settled around them, but her words cut through it like a sharp knife. She stood before him, small and fragile against the chaos, yet determined and resolute in her purpose. "I am here because you need me," she said, each word laced with sincerity and emotion. "And I...I need you." Her voice caught on the last words, a plea for him to understand the depth of her concern, the lengths she would go for him. A moment of tense silence passed between them before she took a step forward, closing the distance between them. Her heart pounded in her chest, echoing the gravity of her confession. "Let me help you," she pressed, willing him to see the sincerity in her eyes.

"Mariah Mendacium"