The guards brought her into the center of the town square, shoving her roughly forward until she stumbled and fell to her knees. The crowd murmured amongst themselves, some jeering and laughing while others watched with a mixture of fascination and fear.

In the midst of all this, Lumia closed her eyes and focused on the moonlight that still managed to find its way past the clouds. She took a deep breath, gathering her magic as much as she could...and then let it loose in a powerful burst.

As Lumia released her magic, the air around her shimmered and shifted. The people in the crowd gasped, some falling back in fear as she seemed to grow larger and more imposing. For a heartbeat, it looked like she had won; that she would break free from their control...

But then something snapped against her skin, cutting off her magic like a knife through warm butter. She gasped, falling back to the cold stones as her power fled from her.

Lumia hesitated as the figure held out a cloth for her to take, their hand shaking slightly beneath the darkness of their cloak. Something in their posture seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. Slowly, she reached out and took the cloth from them, wrapping it around her face as best she could while still leaving one eye free.

"Why are you helping me?" she asked hoarsely through the fabric, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought I was going to die here."

She hesitated, her mind racing with possibilities. This person had come into her cell, freed her, and now offered assistance... but why? Who were they? And what did they want in return?

"Stand by you?" she repeated cautiously. "What do you mean?"

The figure remained silent, their presence like a weight pressing down upon her. Lumia felt trapped once more, even though she had just been granted freedom. The unseen person's silence made her feel vulnerable and exposed.