The figure in the doorway stepped forward, light casting long shadows behind her as she moved deeper into the courtyard.
Kain's eyes narrowed.
Then widened.
His lips parted, though no sound emerged.
Shock and slight betrayal overtook his expression like a wave freezing over still water—stiff, sharp, unreadable. His fingers, still hovering over another the golden seed, twitched as if he'd been caught mid-crime.
The woman stopped, blinked once at his expression, and gave a nervous smile. A smile that Kain didn't return.
Seeing that her smile was not returned, she awkwardly dropped the corners of her lips.
"…O-oh. Um… yeah, I guess this is awkward," she muttered. "But in my defense, I didn't originally plan to come this far either. I thought I'd die the second I came in."
She rubbed the back of her head and gave a small, awkward laugh.
"But it looks like this place was empty. Ha ha…Well, I guess not completely empty since you're here, of course."
Kain didn't laugh.
Nor smile.
