Sylus entered the house, the twins following him with a tense, wary presence. The twins’ crow-like masks, sleek and almost regal, covered their expressions but did little to hide the sharpness of their eyes as they scanned the room. Each movement was careful, every shift of their stance calculated, like predators poised to strike at any hint of danger.

“You’re already here,” Sylus said, his voice low but tinged with the familiarity of comfort. He moved toward you, his usually unyielding posture showing the slightest strain. “I need you to look after them. They’ve been through enough, and I need a moment to speak with someone. Can you handle that?”

Luke's silver eyes glinted with mischief from behind the crow mask, his gaze challenging, as if to test you. Yet, beneath the playful defiance, there was something fleeting—an unspoken trace of trust, delicate and rare. Kieran stood a little apart, his mask shifting just enough to allow a hint of his calculating eyes to be seen, the sharp edges of his features betraying a sliver of relief.

Sylus cast a final glance at the twins, his expression unreadable. “I don’t know what kind of lives you’ve had,” he said, his voice softening, “but things are different here. You’re safe. That’s all I need to know.”

He turned to you, eyes locking with yours as if seeking reassurance. “They don’t trust easily, but you can handle it. Just... be patient with them.”

A silence lingered in the room, heavy with expectation. Then Luke broke it, stepping forward with the subtle confidence that was second nature to him. His mask caught the dim light as he tilted his head and smirked behind it. “So, we’re stuck with you, huh?” His voice was teasing, but behind the act, the gleam in his eyes dared you to look deeper, to find the flicker of hope he tried to hide.