Alaric's voice was low and commanding, his words piercing the air as he asked, "Are you sure, little girl, you don't want to eat now?"
Luzella's gaze met Alaric's, her voice steady and unwavering as she declared, "Very sure."
Alaric's eyes blazed with fury as he sighed, feeling helpless. Frustration etched on his face, as he released his hold on her. His voice was a low, menacing growl as he spat out the words, "Very sure? Aah? Fine, Go and Leave now"
Luzella sensed Alaric's growing anger, the tension between them was palpable. Silently, she stood up from his lap and headed towards the door. Before she could reach it, the sound of shattering glass made her flinch. She spun around to see shocking sight of the glass table lay shattered, and Alaric's hand was consumed by fiery, molten lava-like flames.
Luzella's glanced at Alaric, he was already stood up from couch and standing with his head bowed in apparent struggle with intense frustration. Her attention shifted to his hand, where a thick substance seemed to be spreading. A shiver ran down her spine as the liquid substance coating his skin was eerily reminiscent of molten lava and that orange and red hues worried her, but she didn't think it was blood, given the color. Concerned, she took a step forward to examine his hand closer, but Alaric's thunderous voice stopped her "Don't you dare come here. Just go now and sleep."
The sharp tone of Alaric's voice made Luzella flinched and momentarily stopped in her tracks. However, her concern for him quickly overrode her fear as she saw the liquid substance dripping from his hand. Disregarding his screams, she continued moving towards him.
Alaric watched her steps carefully as she approached him, worried she'd step on the glass shards. "Little girl, you've become so courageous, haven't you? Not even obeying my words now," Alaric said in a low, mocking tone with a cold chuckle dripping with sarcasm as he added, "So, why have you come back? Didn't you say you wanted to go to sleep?"
Luzella remained silent, her face etched with worry as she reached for Alaric's hand. Following her gaze, Alaric's eyes landed on his own hand, and he realized she intended to touch it. With a swift motion, he jerked his hand out of her reach, his voice low and sharp as he commanded, "Don't touch." The words hung in the air, heavy with warning.
Luzella's gaze snapped back to Alaric's face, her voice trembling with concern as she stammered, "Yo...your hand, what's that?" She looked back at his hand again, and her eyes widened in horror as she took in the full sight. The molten lava-like substance dripped from his fingers, sizzling and crackling as it landed on the couch near him, burning holes into the fabric. The air was thick with the acrid smell.
"What's happening?" Her voice cracked with worry and fear as she struggled to keep her composure.
Alaric's expression softened slightly as he tried to comfort her, his voice gentle as he said, "It's nothing to worry about, don't panic."
Luzella's voice rose in distress, "No, it's... it's burning! Yo-your hand, what should we do? It's... it's..." her words trailing off in panic as her eyes fixed on the molten lava-like substance.
Alaric felt a spark of warmth ignite within him, knowing that Luzella's concern was fixed on his hand, rather than shrinking back in horror from the molten lava-like substance that dripped from his palm.
Alaric's lips curled into a soft smile as he reached out with his good hand, gently drawing Luzella closer. "Little chick, are you worried about me?" he asked, his voice low and soothing.
Luzella's eyes locked onto his, her face scrunched up in a worried frown. Ignoring his question, her voice laced with urgency as she chided him, "Stupid, let's do something about this now"
Alaric felt the tremble of her hands as they grasped to him, and he was surprised. "Why are your hands shaking, little one?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Luzella's gaze dropped to Alaric's hand, her eyes widening in alarm. "Oh no, it's spreading. Quickly, do something. what's happening to your hand?" she asked, her voice urgent, and tried to reach out to examine his hand more closely.
Alaric gently pulled his hand back, out of Luzella's reach, and offered a reassuring smile. "Calm down first, little one. It's really nothing. Just look at me, it's nothing," he said, his voice soothing, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to her growing panic.
Luzella's eyes, filled with worry and growing tension, locked onto Alaric's. Her face was etched with concern, and she was on the verge of tears. "No.... No, it's burning your hand," she whispered urgently.
"It's not burning my hand, look, I'm fine." Alaric said reassuringly. He gently rotated his hand, showcasing the affected area. The lava-like liquid dripped from his hand, hissing and crackling as it hit the ground, consuming everything it touched. Yet, Alaric's skin remained unscathed, radiating a warm, golden glow. "It's just dripping from my hand, it doesn't harm me in anyways." His calm eyes met Luzella's worried gaze. "Look at it now, it'll heal on its own," he said, his gentle tone reassuring.
Luzella's eyes followed Alaric's hand as the lava substance vanished into thin air, leaving his skin smooth and unblemished. His hand looked perfectly normal, not a single mark or blemish to be seen. She shifted her gaze to the limestone marble floor, where the lava droplets had fallen amidst the shattered glass fragments from the broken table. The marble was scorched and blackened, emitting a charred, acrid smell that filled the air. The sound of crackling flames accompanied the sight of the damaged floor, and the nearby couch, where a few droplets of lava had landed, was visibly scorched, its fabric darkened with jarred marks. Luzella's eyes snapped back to his, her expression a mix of wonder and awe.
Luzella's eyes widened in wonder as she asked, "Wow! Was it magic or what?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, and her gaze sparkled with curiosity. But beneath the wonder, a wave of relief washed over her, her shoulders relaxing as the tension melted off her face. The concern that had etched her face just moments before began to fade, replaced by a mix of awe and fascination. Her breath still caught slightly as she waited for his response, the silence between them thick with anticipation.