A Subtle Facade

"Seraphina."

Raven gently touched her shoulder. He couldn't just leave, thinking she would feel saddened by his departure.

"Didn't you want to see me off?"

He shook her a little harder, but Seraphina remained still, not even showing a reaction as if she were in a pleasant dream.

"Seraphina?"

Something felt wrong. Raven grabbed her hastily by the shoulder.

Her limp body didn't move under his firm grip. Even yesterday, it terrified him to notice her mouth sealed tight.

Her already pallid complexion seemed to get paler by the day. Raven shook her even stronger.

"Seraphina, open your eyes."

"Ah…"

Her firmly closed eyelids trembled, revealing hazy purple eyes. He gently embraced Seraphina, who seemed to be rolling her eyes languidly.

"Do you have any energy? Do you feel any pain?"

"I…"

"No matter what I did, you weren't waking up. It's just like…"