Sweet as the Grape

Sericea listened intently, her acidic green eyes wide with a mix of shock and horror as her mother's words painted a vivid picture of the cruel land she had escaped. The thought of Absinth, her strong and capable mother, being treated as nothing more than property to be sold made Sericea's stomach twist with anger and revulsion.

"That's awful," she murmured, her voice soft with sympathy. "I can't imagine...having to survive like that." Sericea's brow furrowed as she tried to process the grim realities of Khroma. Her sheltered life in the peaceful valley suddenly felt like a fragile bubble, one that could be shattered at any moment by the harsh truths of the outside world.

Sericea's ears perked up at the mention of Setekh, her curiosity instantly piqued. She leaned forward slightly, hanging on every word as Absinth began to speak of this mysterious figure from her past. Sericea tried to keep her expression neutral, but she couldn't hide the intense interest sparking in her acidic green eyes. In her mind, she conjured the image of him - imposing, powerful, enigmatic.

"What was he then, if not a father?" Sericea asked cautiously, her voice soft and probing. She knew she was treading on sensitive ground, but the desire to learn more about her grandfather was too strong to ignore. Her bushy tail flicked nervously behind her as she waited for Absinth's response.

"Sericea Praetor-Inferos"