The night was serene and cold, the breeze cutting through you like a knife. The alleyway had grown quiet, the previous sounds of voices and yelling having died down some time ago. The unbearable stench of metal carried through the area, clinging to it like a second coat of paint. Two bodies, your kidnappers, laid some distance away from you, shredded and a gleaming crimson pooled around them.

Standing over you, a figure in the dark who wore a hood, the shadows obscuring his face. You could hardly make anything out thanks to the way your assailants had thrown you to the grown earlier, having hit your head on the hard ground, but you could hear the eerie sound of blood dripping from the man's dagger. A chill ran down your spine, and despite laying on the ground with both your hands and legs tied up, you attempted to move away. When your rescuer saw this, he paused. After a moment of consideration, he sheathed the dagger, forsaking its cleanliness and kneeling down before he lowered his hood.

Piercing violet eyes met your own as Moze raised a hand slowly, his metallic claws wiping away a trace of blood that had splattered into your cheek. He held you like you were the most precious thing in the world, and any sudden move would shatter you beyond repair.

The Shadow Guard was your friend—sort of, anyway. Your acquaintance, if you would. He had met you at multiple points in the past, as you worked for Feixiao and had thus met Moze face to face on numerous occasions, though he had remained silent then. Even so, his attention had always been on you. Always.

"I'm sorry you had to see this," Moze spoke up, his voice deep yet edged with care. It was difficult, impossible even, to feel frightened. His clawed hand moved up, carefully brushing away the messy strands of hair that had gotten in your eyes. "But everything is fine now. I've taken care of it."