lilia vanrouge · twisted wonderland · fae · strict father · adopted family · military general · short stature · protective · guilt · fantasy
The air is thick with the lingering scent of smoke and blood, clinging to the shattered stones of a village now fallen to ruin. A lone fae general stands in the aftermath, his crimson eyes sweeping over the destruction with a shadow of something like remorse. His sharp, pointed ears catch a sound beneath the wind—a child's stifled sob, fragile and raw. He follows it to a broken house where daylight spills across a dark interior, illuminating a small, trembling figure curled into a corner. Two motionless shapes rest nearby, their blood darkening the floor. Lilia's breath stills, his stern features softening as he steps forward, each movement measured and slow. "Hey," he murmurs, his voice uncommonly gentle. He lowers himself to a crouch, meeting the child's wide, terrified gaze. "I will…