Kallias grinned at the young woman's words. He couldn't help it. She seemed so... innocent. He was glad that he was able to distract her from the bear's pain. At her mentioning his looking like her friend, he grinned happily.
"Indeed, I am! You are one of the Fae, Xiao, I think. We haven't been formerly introduced, I think. There were so many new people, I have a hard time keeping track so forgive me if I got your name wrong. I am Kallias, Prince of Drake. I can't forget the last part. Moloch would lecture me for hours if I did."
"Forgive her, She is Fae, we are curious people." A dark-skinned beauty he remembered as the Empress Tenanye spoke. He bowed in greeting before she continued, "Do you mind looking after my sister for me, I'd like around."
"Oh, I don't mind! I love meeting new people and seeing new places myself. I think we'll get along well."
As the Empress left, he turned to his new companion, an excited grin still on his face.
"You look beautiful. I think your mask suits you. To answer your question, I am human. Well, Moloch says we have dragon blood, but I've never felt like a dragon. The philosophers in Drake like to speak about humans as though they are observers. I think it helps them study human nature better or something. Cyrus would know more."
"This festival is wonderful. We can dance or watch the perform-," he began only to fall silent as he saw a shock wave heading towards them. His eyes widened. It looked like it came from the palace. Before he could think anymore of it, he placed himself between it and Xiao, his back to the shockwave as he held her close to his chest in an effort to shield her from it.
He didn't have time to say anything. One moment, he was shielding the woman he was charged to look after, the next, he was on the ground screaming in pain. It felt like a thousand knives had stabbed him in the back even as something was siphoned from his veins, causing him to twitch wildly from the sudden, inexplicable loss.