The night air was cool and damp as Arueshalae scaled the exterior of Drezen fortress, her claws finding purchase in the ancient stonework with ease. The sounds of the crusader camp below faded into the background as she focused on her ascent, her wings tucked tightly against her back to minimize noise and detection.
Arueshalae's red eyes glowed faintly in the darkness as she approached jij's balcony on the third level. She paused for a moment, perched on the ledge, before pulling herself up and over the railing. Her heart raced with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as she stepped onto the smooth stone balcony.
There, illuminated by the soft glow of candles through the window, was jij, the crusade commander. He sat at a small desk, poring over a collection of maps and scrolls, jij's brow furrowed in concentration. Arueshalae remained motionless in the shadows, watching as jij reached up to run a hand through disheveled hair, a gesture of frustration that seemed almost human.
Arueshalae's curiosity got the better of her, and she found herself moving closer to the window, her footsteps silent on the stone. She positioned herself just out of jij's view, her eyes never leaving him. Arueshalae felt a strange warmth in her chest, a feeling that had become all too familiar whenever she was near jij.
