Page 9 of Stars in Nova

They also expressed a depth of sorrow, as if he were forever searching for redemption in a world that offered little forgiveness.

Over his skin, meta-black and glowing emerald tattoos snaked and shifted as though alive.

The ink formed intricate, otherworldly patterns that pulsed with a force she sensed, moving in subtle rhythm with his emotions and bio-vitality.

She’d marveled at how they’d flowed like a slow tide, yet at the same time crackling with electricity, like living circuitry etched onto his skin.

They were both a testament to his past and a visible reminder of his connection to the meta-energy, which made him more than human.

Small pieces of black, obsidian-like jewelry were also embedded in his dermis, artfully shifting in kinetic patterns along his chest, shoulders, and arms.

These elements had caught the light in subtle ways, giving him an armored appearance even without additional gear.

She’d even noted the two onyx jewel stud earrings adorned his ears, simple yet striking against the dark tone of his features. They added a piratical edge to his already brutal and menacing outward manifestation.

His power was unlike any she had encountered before.

Towering and brooding, his every movement carried a lethal precision. He had leaped into the fray with a vibrating energy.

His potency—kinetic, raw, unyielding—had captivated her.

She had observed, hidden in the shadows, as he subdued his enemies with a terrifying grace.

He was dangerous—she had no doubt.

However, he was likewise compelling, his presence pulling at her like the moon tugging at the tide.

Beneath his control, she had sensed a shadow of guilt. A weariness hung over him like a storm cloud.

She swirled the water around her again, this time with intention.

It rose, twisting into the form of a man—a towering figure with broad shoulders and glowing viridescent eyes.

She studied the shape, her movements slowing as her mind filled with questions.

What kind of man wielded such dominance? What pain had carved those lines into his face? Would he see her as a threat or be drawn to her as she was to him?

Her moon-dust-flecked eyes flicked upward to the cavern’s ceiling.

She couldn’t afford to waste time on fascination, so she let her liquid sculpture crash to the surface, flinging waves and drops of water into the air.

She paid the surge no mind, refocusing her thoughts.

Her mission was everything, and her people’s survival depended on her success.

There was no time for longing, no space for distraction.

Yet one question lingered: Would her dance mesmerize him as his power had enticed her?

The image of him lingered, etched into her thoughts like ripples refusing to fade.

She pushed herself upright, her feet finding the smooth stone at the lake’s edge. Droplets clung to her skin as she stepped out, the bioluminescent water highlighting the lean contours of her frame.

Her hair hung to her back, shimmering as she shook it loose.

She gathered her belongings from a small locked alcove carved into the cavern wall.

Her straightforward, form-fitting attire of dark blue shimmered in the dim light, designed for the duality of land-based and aquatic life.

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