The dimly lit tavern hummed with laughter and the clink of mugs. The air was thick with the scent of ale and the warm glow ofcandlelight. In a corner booth, a group of raucous patrons roared in amusement as they shared tales of grandeur. Amidst the revelry, a lone figure sat at the bar, a half-empty glass of crimson wine before her.
Eluna Silvermoon.
Her midnight hair cascaded over one shoulder, partially revealing the intricate tattoo that marked her skin—a silent testament to her strength. Yet, her eyes held a wariness, a guard that had been carefully erected over time. She exuded an aura of danger, a challenge to the world to test her patience.
On the other side of the room, Orion Luminastra leaned against a worn wooden pillar, his piercing gaze tracing the crowd. His commanding presence drew the eye,yet he remained a mystery, an enigma wrapped in elegance and strength.
Eluna's lips curled into a sardonic smirk as she watched a group of men, each vying for her attention. She sipped her wine, her gaze impassive, as they attempted to catch her eye with flattery and bravado. But behind her mask of indifference lay a deep-rooted resentment, a fire fueled by years of watching women and children injured by men's hands.
As one particularly bold man stepped forward, a playful challenge in his grin, Eluna's eyes flickered with a dangerous fire. She leaned back, her lips curving into a mockery of a smile. "Tell me, good sir," she drawled, her voice dripping with venomous honey, "do you believe in destiny?"
The man's bravado wavered, but he nodded, a foolish grin still playing on his lips. "Of course, milady. Why?"
Eluna's laughter was a harsh melody that cut through the air. "Then you are destined for heartache, for I am no lady of fortune. I am a storm—a tempest of solitude that will leave naught but wreckage in my wake."
The man's confidence shattered like glass,
She had seen the darkness that men were capable of, the pain they caused, and the disrespect they harbored. Working as an assistant to a healer, she had witnessed the aftermath of their cruelty—the battered bodies, the shattered spirits. Eluna Silvermoon had learned to trust no one, especially not men.and he stumbled back, casting a panicked glance at his companions. Eluna's gaze remained unforgiving as she returned her attention to her wine, dismissive of the men she had scorched.
Orion approached the bar, his own glass of wine in hand. He met Eluna's gaze with an amused twinkle in his eyes. "Quite the charmer, aren't you?" he remarked, his tone light.
Eluna spared him a brief glance, her sapphire eyes cold yet curious. "And who might you be to pass judgment?"
He offered a knowing smile, his voice soft. "An observer, perhaps, of the dance you weave."
Unseen by Eluna, Orion's gaze held a hidden layer—a smoldering anger that churned beneath his calm exterior. He, too, had watched as men approached her, their intentions clear, their disrespect palpable. But there was something else—something he relished in witnessing—the shattering of their hearts as they encountered a force stronger than their arrogance.
As their conversation continued, the air between them became charged with tension and intrigue. The tavern buzzed with life around them, yet in that corner of the world, Eluna Silvermoon and Orion Luminastra found themselves entangled in a dance that held the promise of destiny's design.