The living room fell into an uneasy silence as Jess finished recounting their encounter in the forest.
Raphael, her long silver hair cascading over her shoulders, hugged her knees to her chest, her violet eyes wide with a mixture of wonder and fear.
"Demons? Like the ones we heard about in class?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "Real demons? And they've been... trapped here?"
Rio, sitting closer to Raphael than strictly necessary, nodded solemnly. "It's a lot to take in, I know. But it's true. We saw it with our own eyes."
Raphael shuddered, and Rio instinctively reached out to pat her hand comfortingly.
She gave him a grateful smile, which made his cheeks flush slightly.
Saber, who had been pacing back and forth during the entire explanation, suddenly whirled to face the group.
"But where's Mr Kim now?" she demanded, her hand clutching the amber pendant around her neck. "Why isn't he here with you?"
