The Little Show

As the first rays of sunlight crept through the curtains, Nedeira's red-rimmed eyes fluttered open. 

She lay there for a moment, her thoughts were a mess again, before the events of the previous day washed over her. 

With a heavy sigh, she pushed herself up from the bed, her body ached from the beating. 

She had barely finished dressing when the door slammed open, making her jump. 

The manager stood in the doorway, his face twisted in anger.

"You," he barked, pointing a stubby finger at her. "Get your things. You're going to the town center to tell fortunes again. And you better bring in a good haul, or else."

Nedeira's stomach knotted. 

The town center was bustling and loud, a place where the talk about her would surely be louder, more vicious. 

But she nodded, not trusting her voice, and gathered her small pouch of tarot cards and crystals.

"And remember," the manager added, his tone was low and threatening, "no more mistakes. You're already on thin ice after that fire. Don't make me regret keeping you around."

He slammed the door behind him, leaving Nedeira alone with her thoughts. 

She swallowed hard, the threat hanging over her like a dark cloud, "not for long…not for long…" She had to do this, had to endure, if she wanted to leave.

Steeling herself, Nedeira made her way to the town center. As she set up her small table and laid out her cards, she could feel the eyes on her, hear the whispers and snickers.

"Look, it's the fortune girl."

"Bet she'll bring bad luck to us all."

"I doubt. Her visions are usually true…"

"Yes, and that's why it's scary…"

Nedeira kept her head down, focusing on her cards, trying to block out the voices.

 She had a knack for reading people, for seeing the truths they hid from themselves and with her element, it was easier to control them.

And as the day wore on, she began to draw in a small crowd, the lure of the unknown too strong for some to resist.

One by one, she read their fortunes, her words were simple and direct, her predictions vague enough to be believable. 

She could see the skepticism in their eyes, but also the hope, the desperation for something to cling to.

As the coins started to fill her pouch, Nedeira felt a small spark of something like pride. She was doing this, surviving in spite of everything.

But then, a familiar voice cut through the murmur of the crowd.

"Hey, freak, what do you see in the cards for yourself? A short, miserable life?"

The laughter that followed was like a slap in the face. 

Nedeira's hands trembled, but she forced herself to look up, to meet the eyes of the man who had spoken.

"I see pain," she said, her voice steady. "Pain that you cause others, coming back to you tenfold."

The man's face darkened, and for a moment, Nedeira thought he might strike her. 

"Idiot!" 

The argument between Nedeira and the man was cut short by the hypnotic sound of a flute. 

The man's hand, which had been raised in anger, slowly lowered as his attention, along with everyone else's, was drawn to the source of the melody.

A man with long black hair was playing the flute, surrounded by a mesmerizing dance of cobras. 

People began to drift away from Nedeira's table, drawn like moths to a flame towards the entrancing performance. 

The snakes moved in harmony with the music, their movements were elegant and kinda fluid.

Nedeira watched in awe as Karyan played, his eyes closed and expressed one of deep concentration. 

She couldn't help but smile; she hadn't realised he possessed such a talent.

The crowd around her buzzed with excitement and curiosity.

"Is this the snake master?" one person whispered.

"No! I saw the serpent master; his hair is green, and his eyes were golden!" another argued.

"What would a serpent master do here exactly?" someone else chimed in, with a skepticism in their tone.

"He is not! Look the way he looks! The serpent master is probably busy healing people and not performing!" a fourth voice added.

"Look at those snakes, though. They look like they could bite you!" a woman exclaimed, her voice tinged with fear.

Nedeira couldn't help but chuckle at the speculation and fear mongering.

Just two days ago, she thought the same.

 Karyan's performance had completely overshadowed her fortune-telling, and she was grateful for the respite.

As the flute's song came to a close, the cobras slowly slithered away, disappearing as mysteriously as they had appeared.

 Karyan opened his eyes and looked around at the captivated faces in the crowd.

'Thank you for your attention,' he said to everyone in his mind as he nodded. 

'But not all snakes are to be feared. Some come to remind us of the music in life.'

The crowd erupted into applause, a few people tossing coins at Karyan's feet.

Nedeira approached him once the crowd had dispersed, a playful smirk was seen on her face. "I had no idea you were such a charmer, Karyan. And with snakes, no less."

He grinned back at her, picking up the coins. "It seems we all have our hidden talents, Nedeira. Yours is to see into people's hearts, and mine, apparently, is to calm serpents."

She shook her head in amusement. "Well, your timing is impeccable. You certainly know how to make an entrance and steal a crowd."

Karyan's expression sobered a bit as he looked at her. "I saw what was happening. I couldn't stand by and watch you be harassed by that brute."

Nedeira's heart warmed at the gesture. Despite everything, it was comforting to know she wasn't alone.

"Thank you," she said, her tone was sincere. "I guess we both look out for each other in this cruel world."

Karyan nodded, the corners of his mouth lifting in a small, knowing smile. "That's how we survive, Nedeira."

As they walked back to the house, Nedeira felt a little lighter. 

The weight of her troubles hadn't lifted, but the day's unexpected turn of events had given her a momentary reprieve. Perhaps, she thought maybe Karyan wasn't so crueles and cold after all. 

"I know what you're thinking, and no…" he cut her mind, "if I'll need to kill more children in order to achieve my goals, I will."