Bab 252: Liora's relentless pursuit!

'Drip, Drip'

"..." An awkward silence lingered in the hall as Aether, Aria, and Maelona stared at the blood-dripping flesh before them.

Their gazes turned to Liora, who had brought the gruesome offering. She sat before them, haughty and proud, her posture exuding a confidence that suggested she expected Aether to appreciate her gift.

"I-Is this a gift?" Aether asked, his voice tinged with disbelief, unable to tear his eyes away from the still-twitching flesh. His mind raced, trying to comprehend the meaning behind such a macabre present.

No matter how he looked at it, the fresh, quivering meat was unmistakably from something that had been alive only minutes ago. The fur that still clung to parts of it suggested it was a deer or a similar large animal, freshly hunted and brutally killed. 

"Yes, how is it?" Liora asked, her eyes gleaming with an unsettling mix of pride and... was that love? 

[+4000 AP]