today is one of the days when he was sitting under the shade of a tree, not far from the temple, not far away he lit a fire on a high hill not far from a small settlement a fire lit up

The girl was terrified at first sight of him, pressing herself against the tree in fear and exhaustion. Shirayui frowned slightly at the intrusion; he could hear men cursing and shouting behind her. They were obviously her pursuers. He glanced briefly at the metal collar around her neck before addressing her calmly.

"You should come with me, child. You'll be safe in my temple." His voice was gentle but firm, conveying authority despite its smoothness. "The men behind you are no match for my powers."

He offered his hand to her, palm upwards. A hint of magic glimmered within the red ornament adorning each finger, enticing yet unsettling at the same time.

"Good girl," Shirayui praised softly, gently taking her hand into his own. His skin was as cold as ice against hers, but there was a reassuring strength behind it that made her feel somewhat safe. "Come now; we must hurry." With the girl's hand in his, he led her towards the temple at a leisurely pace, making sure not to appear too threatening despite his obvious dominance over the situation. He glanced back once more at the men chasing them, shooting them a warning look before turning away and continuing onwards with their destination.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot do that," replied Shirayui calmly, not taking his eyes off the man who had confronted them. "This girl is my guest now, and under my protection." He paused for a moment before adding with a growl, "You would be wise to turn back while you still can." His voice was cold as ice, but laced with a power that seemed to send shivers down the spine of anyone who heard it.

"She is not your property to take," said Shirayui firmly, his voice growing colder with each word. "Back off now, or you'll be sorry." The four men that had emerged from the trees exchanged glances but didn't seem particularly intimidated by Shirayui's warning.

"Very well," said the man who had first spoken, his voice growing dangerously calm. "If she won't come willingly, we'll take her." With a sudden burst of speed, he lunged forwards; the other three men following suit. Shirayui merely stepped aside as they closed in on them, revealing his true intentions at last: these men had been nothing more than a distraction to lure them away from safety.

As the men closed in, Shirayui smiled coldly to himself. He watched with interest as they fought; their skills were impressive, but he knew they could not hope to defeat him. With a wave of his hand, a trio of white snakes materialized from thin air, slithering towards the intruders. The men barely had time to react before the snakes wrapped themselves around them, constricting tightly and preventing them from moving.

Shirayui took this opportunity to step closer to the girl. She was trembling violently in fear, her grip on the metal collar painfully tight. He reached out and softly placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright now," he assured her, his voice calm and soothing despite its chilling undertone. "You're safe."

The girl tried to pull away from him but found herself unable to move, held in

Shirayui looked the girl in the eyes with an almost paternal expression, his own red irises seeming to glow eerily against her white skin. "I can make this collar disappear," he said softly. "It won't hurt you; it will only bind you to me... But once I remove it, there's no going back." He paused, waiting for a response before continuing. "I won't force your choice; that wouldn't be fair. However, if you stay with me... everything else will become much easier."

There was another pause as he let his words sink in, watching her carefully for any sign of understanding or agreement. Finally, he added gently: "Your suffering will end; my protection will keep you safe from harm... and perhaps we can find some comfort in each other's company."

Shirayui smiled thinly and nodded in understanding. "Good," he said quietly as his hand reached up to touch the bracelet at his own wrist. With a flick of his wrist, the red band slithered off and disappeared into the air before being consumed by one of the white snakes nearby. As he did so, the collar around her neck began to loosen, finally falling away with a soft clank as it hit the ground. "There," he said almost gently. "You are free."

He offered his hand to her once more, his expression softening slightly despite the cruelty that still lurked within his features.

Shirayui's grip on her hand tightened briefly before becoming gentle once more, encircling it in a cool embrace. "Come," he said softly, leading her towards the temple as if they were old friends taking an evening stroll. The white snakes slithered silently behind them, keeping watch over their retreat from the men who still struggled against their bindings.

"I apologize for having to bring you here like this," he continued, speaking almost absently as they walked. "My methods may seem harsh, but I must find a bride... and you are my last chance." He shot her a sidelong glance, studying her expression carefully before asking curiously: "Do you have any questions for me?"

Shirayui's expression remained calm and detached as he studied the girl in front of him. Her gaze held something he hadn't expected... empathy? Curiosity? He leaned closer, almost whispering. "Yes?"

Shirayui blinked in surprise as her fingertips caressed his cheek; it was a gesture of such unexpected tenderness that he could hardly believe it was happening. "You don't have to be afraid of me," he whispered gently, his voice almost hoarse from disbelief. "I may seem harsh at times... but I will always protect you." The words felt strange on his lips, unfamiliar and foreign; perhaps they were true, perhaps they weren't. Either way, he knew that she needed to hear them now.

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice further still so that only she could hear him. "If you stay with me... I will do my best to make sure that your life is as comfortable and happy as it can be." His cold eyes searched hers intently, seeking some sign of understanding or trust amidst the fear and confusion that lingered there.

Shirayui exhaled softly in relief as she nodded her understanding. Her touch felt... warm, alive; it was a sensation he hadn't experienced in far too long. For the briefest of moments, he wondered if perhaps there might be more to this arrangement than mere survival... or even companionship. He smiled slightly at the thought before returning his attention to the task at hand: leading her safely back to his temple.

"Thank you," he murmured as they walked side by side through the forest, their pace now slow and easy compared to how they had been moments ago. "You don't know how much that means to me." His fingers tightened briefly on hers before relaxing once more into a comfortable grip.