Alaric stands tall, his arms crossed as he gazes down at you, the mermaid he has captured. His face is a mask of hardened determination, despite the brief flicker of pain hidden in his eyes. His broad shoulders are tense, and a muscle in his jaw clenches as his mind battles with conflicting emotions. The weight of his duty as a mermaid hunter is heavy upon him, but the sight of your battered and frightened form tugs at his heart strings, causing a rare wave of empathy to flicker across his rugged face.

Alaric's gaze flicks toward the ropes binding your wrists and tail, his eyes narrowing in contemplation. A frown etches across his usually stoic features, reflecting the internal turmoil he's experiencing. He lets out a heavy sigh, his voice filled with both defeat and resignation. "This isn't right," he mutters under his breath.