Seeing where Cassius was going, Ragnora's eyes shimmered with pure panic.
"What...What are you doing?!"
"Ah, I am truly ashamed." Cassius said loudly, shaking his head. "To offer such silly, childish books to a legendary commander...What was I thinking? These are only fit for little girls!"
"Wait! Hold on!"
But Cassius ignored her, stopping right in front of the open flames.
"I feel deeply embarrassed for even showing them to you. So, to make up for that, tomorrow, I will find a gift worthy of your stature, a grand weapon or a magnificent piece of armor."
"No! That is entirely unnecessary!" Ragnora pleaded, taking an urgent step forward.
"No, no, I insist." Cassius said, a sudden, dark intensity in his eyes as he raised the books high. "But for now, I shall burn these worthless pages so they never offend your eyes again."
He drew his arm back, preparing to hurl the collection straight into the fire.
"STOP!"
The word tore from Ragnora's throat before she could stop it.
