The Shadow of Doubt

Marlie stood frozen for a moment, her gaze lost in the void. Axel's words echoed in her mind, as sharp as a blade.

He wasn't entirely wrong.

Humans feared what they didn't understand. Creatures like her had always been hunted, rejected, condemned before they even had a chance to explain their nature.

But Miria…

Miria was her friend.

If anyone could understand, it was her. Marlie wanted to believe that their bond was strong enough to go beyond appearances, to break the chains of ancestral fear.

And yet… a shadow of doubt crept in.

What if Axel was right?

What if Miria rejected her?

A lump formed in Marlie's throat. Her heart beat faster, a mix of anxiety and hope clashing within her.

No. She couldn't just stand there drowning in uncertainty.

With a sudden motion, she wiped away the tears welling at the corners of her eyes and stood up.

— "I need to eat something…"

Her voice was barely a whisper, as if she was trying to convince herself.

She left the room, hoping the warmth of a meal would calm the storm of her thoughts. But as she walked away, the question lingered, relentless.

Would Miria truly accept her for who she was?