Elysia knelt down beside the young demon child, her violet eyes soft with concern. The little boy, no older than six or seven, sniffled quietly, his dark violet eyes glistening with unshed tears.
His short black hair stuck out in tufts, and his small, curved horns barely peeked through the messy strands. His tiny hands clutched his scraped knee, and Elysia's heart squeezed at the sight.
"Hey," she whispered gently, offering him a warm smile. "It's okay. It's just a little scratch."
The boy blinked up at her, clearly surprised by her kindness. His lips trembled, and Elysia felt an overwhelming urge to protect him from everything, even the cobbled street that dared to hurt him.
"What's your name?" she asked softly, pulling a small cloth from the folds of her cloak to dab at his knee.
He hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Kael."
"Kael," Elysia repeated with a smile. "That's a very strong name. I bet you're really brave, huh?"
