The spider raised its leg.
The elder sister couldn't move.
Her eyes remained fixed upon the creature.
Then—
something changed.
Behind her, the younger sister's fingers twitched.
Once.
The paralysis weakened for a fraction of a second.
Her eyes widened.
She saw the raised limb.
She saw her sister beneath it.
And she moved.
"NO!"
Her body broke free.
She threw herself forward.
The elder sister's eyes widened.
"Don't!"
The younger sister pushed her away.
The enormous leg descended.
The impact came before either of them could react.
Silence.
The elder sister fell sideways.
Her paralysis broke from the force.
She turned immediately.
Her face emptied.
Her sister lay motionless on the ground.
"No..."
She crawled toward her.
"No, no..."
She pulled her into her arms.
The younger sister didn't answer.
The elder sister shook her.
"Wake up."
Nothing.
Her voice broke.
"Please."
The spider stood above them.
Unmoved.
Unconcerned.
The Traveler saw everything.
His body remained completely frozen.
His eyes were the only things he could control.
They stared at the younger sister.
At the elder sister holding her.
At the creature responsible.
Something inside him tightened.
His finger trembled.
Once.
Again.
The paralysis still held.
But beneath it—
something was resisting.
The elder sister lowered her forehead against her sister's.
A broken sound escaped her.
The Traveler couldn't move.
Couldn't speak.
Couldn't help.
For the first time—
the stranger who had fought monsters with his bare hands had become completely useless.
The spider slowly turned toward the elder sister.
She didn't look up.
She didn't care anymore.
The creature approached.
The Traveler's eyes followed it.
His breathing remained trapped behind unmoving ribs.
His hand trembled again.
One finger moved.
Barely.
Then stopped.
The spider raised its front legs.
The elder sister finally looked up.
Her eyes were empty.
And the Traveler's eyes—
began to glow.
Only faintly.
Deep purple.