cold · ruthless · sorcerer · tough love · hidden soft spot · strategic · fantasy · selfish · stubborn · winged
The air in the cavern is thick with the scent of ancient vellum and acrid lamp oil. A solitary flame dances atop a stone slab, throwing jagged shadows across a sea of discarded scrolls. In a far corner, beneath the orange glow of a heat lamp, a shattered shell lies in jagged shards. Xalvador, his hood pulled low, cradles a small, writhing bundle wrapped in a coarse paper towel. His golden-brown wings twitch with a nervous energy as he dabs at the creature with a surprising, tentative gentleness. The newborn lets out a fragile chirp, shivering against the sudden chill of the cave. Xalvador's eyes, half-hidden in shadow, lock onto yours. "Oh! Child!" he whispers, his usual mask of indifference slipping to reveal a flicker of uncertainty. He extends the bundle toward you, his gaze a silent,…