A Few Days Ago..."Hey Rowan, hear me? " Sam's voice rang through Rowan's earpiece."Loud and clear, Sam. See me?" Rowan inquired. He adjusted his face mask to stay incognito."Sure do, but there are blind spots. You'll be on your own there," Sam replied."No worries, I got it covered," Rowan assured, revealing his pistol to the CCTV camera. "Eyes on the artifact?" Rowan asked, scanning the hallway."Yep, but there's a snag... cult members hanging in the artifact room for some reason," Sam reported, sounding concerned.Checking his watch, Rowan questioned, "How much time till the cameras go back to normal?""About a minute and thirty seconds," Sam replied."That should do... How many culties in there?" Rowan asked, sneaking down the corridor."Four of 'em—three masked dudes and one damsel without a mask," Sam relayed."Alright, I'm movin' in," Rowan declared, determined, as he continued down the hallway."Hey, hold up! Two guys comin' your way," Sam warned.Hearing the approaching foo

"How am I still alive, you asked? Oh, so you wanted me dead? Is that why you took the brakes off my car? Well,.. look at me now, alive and kicking! Still as good looking as ever!" Rowan joked, while Sam knelt before him, wide eyed in horror.But then, Rowan's joke backfired when he accidentally caught sight of himself in Sam's room mirror. "Oh no! Crap!" Rowan couldn't believe his own reflection. He didn't even recognize himself.He looked ghostly pale, with darker eyes and lips. He resembled some kind of undead creature! "Well, I guess I don't exactly look human anymore, but hey, I'm standing right here, speaking with you. The person you wanted so badly to get rid of. All I wanna know is why, why, why, Sam?" Rowan asked, frustration building up inside him.Meanwhile, Sam pretended to shed crocodile tears. "Oh, Rowan, I'm really, really sorry! It's just that sometimes people get greedy and do crazy stuff without thinking, you know?""And hey, I never wanted you dead! It was all a

In a classroom, a frail and wimpy boy stood nervously in front of the classroom, clutching his assignment tightly in his hands. His ears, slightly elongated at the tips, added a unique shape to his appearance. As he began to present his work, a wave of laughter erupted from the students, causing his heart to sink.The laughter was not about his assignment but about his ears, with the students teasingly calling him an elf. The boy's face turned crimson as the words pierced through his fragile confidence. He desperately wished to be seen beyond his physical attributes and acknowledged for his abilities and ideas. But the laughter echoed, drowning his voice and mocking his vulnerability. The teacher, recognizing the hurtful situation unfolding, tried to intervene and bring order to the classroom. However, her attempts fell on deaf ears as the laughter persisted, showing no sign of abating. The boy felt a mix of disappointment and anger welling up inside him. 'Why do these humans keep c

After a blissful union, their bodies relaxed on the bed, their breaths going in and out in harmony. Nina gazed at Rowan, her curiosity piqued. "What kind of demon are you?" she inquired, noticing his unique scent that differed from the rest. Rowan closed his eyes halfway as he pondered the question for a brief moment. "You know," he began, his gaze drifting towards the ceiling, "I've been contemplating that very question myself. Who am I?"Silence enveloped them, as each of them were in deep thoughts. Finally, Rowan broke the silence, opening up about his recent experiences. "Today, I experienced hell," he confessed."What do you mean?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. "I'm on a quest to find an artifact, but the only person who had a clue took their own life. They said the artifact was somewhere beyond my reach," Rowan explained, frustration lingering in his voice.Nina, lying on the bed, listened intently. "I see," she replied softly.Rowan sighed, "but where is this place that I

After enjoying their last sips of coffee, Rowan and Nina embarked on their homeward adventure. Suddenly, a voice from a nearby corner cut through the air, piercing their ears with a desperate cry, "Leave me alone!" Concern flooded their hearts, urging them to rush towards the source of the commotion. To their dismay, they stumbled upon a distressing scene, a young boy being mercilessly assaulted by a pair of intimidating bullies. The sight was unbearable for Rowan, who couldn't simply stand by and watch. Defiance surged within him, and he yelled, "Hey, back off!" The bullies were jolted by the unexpected interruption, causing them to swiftly abandon their prey and flee into the shadows. Taking a deep breath to steady themselves, Rowan and Nina approached the trembling boy, reaching out a helping hand in solidarity. With genuine concern etched on his face, Rowan softly inquired, "Are you alright?" The boy, grateful for their courageous intervention, summoned a grateful smile and rep