Kaltain

9.Kill it....

 "So, what's this thread thingy you were talking about?" Ava asked, trying to sound confident as they emerged from the woods and began their trek towards the northern beach. Emm, who was in the midst of a heated argument with Cullen, turned to face her while they walked along the footpath that hugged the edge of the northeastern beach.

Emm kicked a stone on the paved path, watching it skip and bounce a few feet ahead. "Well, I'm a magic detector," he explained, his voice filled with a mix of pride and casual nonchalance. "I can sense people's powers just by looking at them—or even by their scent."

The radiant sun hovered just above the horizon, partially obscured by a veil of delicate, blushing clouds. Its golden rays spilled across the ocean, transforming it into a shimmering expanse of diamonds that danced between the gentle waves and the sunlit sandy shore. The light cast a warm, enchanting glow, illuminating the tranquil beauty of the scene as if nature itself were putting on a grand, celestial performance.

"Powers? Magic detector? Do you read a lot of fantasy books?" Ava chuckled, glancing at Emma. Her eyes then wandered across the main road to a charming café bathed in the early morning light. Her stomach growled loudly in response, as if echoing the café's beckoning allure. The road lay eerily still, devoid of any vehicles, hinting at the quiet tranquility of this small town at such an early hour. As her attention zeroed in on the café, her stomach felt as if a herd of elephants was stampeding within, protesting the absence of food.

'Maybe I should just scream for help,' Ava mused, noticing the few people scattered around. 'Someone might call the police or something.' But then her gaze shifted to Florian's shoulder, where a deadly weapon was slung with nonchalance. 'Or maybe not. What if the weapon turns out to be real?' She decided against taking any chances that could lead to danger.

"Huh? What? No, no, no. I hate reading books," Emma said with a dramatic flair, shaking his head as if the very thought of reading was abhorrent to him. "Seriously, how can someone just sit in the same place for hours reading things I couldn't care less about?" His voice carried a mix of exasperation and disbelief, his gestures exaggerating his distaste for what he clearly found tiresome.

"I can just imagine Bella launching into a lecture about the importance of reading right now," Cullen laughed, his voice ringing out over the soothing rhythm of the waves crashing gently on the shore. His laughter was light and infectious, cutting through the otherwise calm atmosphere with a touch of humor.

Ava, struggling to ignore the persistent grumbling of her stomach, cast a lingering, wistful glance at the café across the road. Her stomach's protests were a stark reminder of the hunger she felt, but she resolutely told herself, 'I'll deal with you later. Now's not the time.'

"Yeah, you definitely need to hear that," Emma muttered under his breath, barely audible over the sound of the waves. Cullen's head snapped towards him with a sharp, inquisitive gaze.

"I can hear you," Cullen retorted, his voice a low growl as he narrowed his eyes in irritation. The tension between them was palpable, a sharp contrast to the otherwise serene setting.

Suddenly, Florian materialized directly in front of Ava, her posture unnervingly calm with her hands clasped behind her back. The abruptness of her appearance caused Ava to stumble slightly, instinctively taking a cautious step backward. Florian's grin was both enigmatic and unsettling, her eyes locked onto Ava's with an intensity that seemed to pierce through her. It was as though Florian was waiting for a reaction, her gaze unyielding and focused.

As Florian began to walk backward, her every movement deliberate and smooth, Ava, still on high alert, followed her with careful steps.

"Is something wrong?" Ava asked, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness as she tried to make sense of the situation.