Raaz opened the door and stepped inside just to stop abruptly as if someone had slapped him in the face. The room was decorated with modest wooden furniture, and the woman sleeping in the bed at the center of the room was simply lovely.
Althika's light green skin didn't diminish the beauty of her features one bit. Quite the contrary, it brought out the red of her flaming hair. She looked peaceful, like a maiden from a fairy tale waiting for her mage charming to wake her up from a cursed slumber, not like a monster carrying another monster in her womb.
"Well, at least she's pretty." Rena tried to find something positive in that situation, but her words sounded hollow even to her.
"Don't worry, dear." Elina touched Raaz's shoulder just to see him flinch. "Think of her as Ryssa. They are both Dryads and come here as friends."
"Thanks." Raaz nodded, his face pale and clammy.
