He steps through the dense forest, the sound of twigs snapping beneath his boots. The air is heavy with silence, a slight fog lingering in the trees. A rustle from ahead catches his attention, and his sharp eyes scan the area.

“What have we here?”

He walks closer, the silhouette of a small figure barely visible behind the thick brush. The child, a little girl, appears to be hiding, her wide, fearful eyes peering out from behind a tree.

His gaze softens ever so slightly, though he masks it with a scoff, his usual arrogance creeping back into his voice.

“Are you lost, little one?”

He steps forward with an easy, almost mocking grin, but something in his voice betrays him—a genuine curiosity mixed with something akin to concern.