Revy Gray Warped World Reflections

Bibi took a tentative step forward, his eyes never leaving Revy's. "We've been watching you," he said, his voice as quiet as the rustle of leaves in the night. "You're not like the others. You have... something special about you." The dragon darted around him, as if eager to be introduced.

Revy's gaze softened as she examined the boy. His instincts told him the boy wasn't a threat. He sheathed his sword and extended his hand, palm up. "I am Revy Gray," she said, her voice soft despite the cruelty that hung in the air like a ghost. "And this is my friend Dori."

Dori took a step forward, his fear momentarily forgotten. The child was as thin as a reed and his clothes were ragged, but his eyes... They held a wisdom beyond his years. The dragon, however, remained a whirl of excitement, fluttering around Dori as if trying to dance with him. Despite its fiery exterior, it was clear that this creature was as innocent as a newborn fawn.

"Bibi," the boy whispered, his eyes never leaving Revy's. "This is my companion, Flam." The dragon chirped happily at the mention of his name, and Dori couldn't help but laugh, the sound breaking the tension like a rock through glass.

Bibi approached cautiously, his eyes wide with wonder. His clothes were torn and dirty, but his gaze was sharp, as if he had seen more than anyone his age should have. The dragon, Flam, hovered around him protectively, its eyes darting between the two strangers with a fiery curiosity.

The silence of the forest was shattered by the sound of Dori's laughter. He had never seen anything like it—a dragon so small it could fit in the palm of his hand. "He's adorable!" Dori exclaimed, reaching out tentatively to touch the creature. To his amazement, Flam allowed it, his scales warming under Dori's touch.

Bibi's expression grew less guarded as the dragon's excitement seemed to reassure him. "Thank you," he murmured, his eyes flicking up to meet Revy's. "We don't mean any harm."

Dori watched in amazement as Flam curled up in his lap, purring like a kitten. He couldn't believe it. A dragon, right here, with them! He stroked its scales gently, feeling the warmth that emanated from its tiny body. The creature's eyes closed in contentment, and Dori felt a strange kinship with this child and his mystical companion.

"We've been hiding here for a month," Bibi said, his voice small in the vastness of the forest. "We had to flee from the Golden Cage. They... They do terrible things to those they catch." His eyes grew distant, the firelight playing across his haunted expression.

Revy's swordsman persona took a step back, allowing the gambler to take the lead. "Golden Cage?" Dori repeated, his hand pausing in mid-stroke over the cards. "What is that?"

Bibi swallowed hard, his eyes downcast. "It's a... a place," he whispered. "They capture children with special abilities and magical creatures. They train them, and then they sell them to the highest bidder." His voice grew softer, as if speaking too loudly would summon the very demons he feared.

Revy's eyes narrowed and she nodded solemnly. "Don't you have a family?" he said, a tone in his voice reflecting the pain of shared experience.

Bibi nodded, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "My family was a family that served the ancient empire. After the ancient empire collapsed, they massacred my family," he whispered.

Dori's heart sank at this statement. The dragon who stole his heart looked at Flam and couldn't imagine anyone could harm such an innocent creature. "We are hiding because we have nothing left," the boy said, his voice trembling with fear and fatigue. "They took everything from us."

Revy's gambler persona took over, his eyes shimmering with compassion. He rummaged through their supplies and handed a loaf of bread and a waterskin to the child. "You can eat," he said gently, his voice softer than the rustling leaves. "You're safe with us."