[You seriously didn’t expect that sneak attack on Ilya to take her hostage would work when she’s with Kael, did you?]

Nexar’s words floated beside me, mocking.

My arms still shook from the impact, Blood Raven trembling in my grip like it might slip from my hands at any moment. The force of Kael’s block had rattled my bones.

’I mean, that’s the best I could come up with as soon as I saw Lydia pinned down and the woman I least expected to see here.’

"I’m impressed!" Kael said, and I could see genuine surprise on her face as she clapped her hands together slowly, deliberately. "To block that with pure instinct alone..."

"Umm... thank you?" I replied, though I didn’t relax even slightly. My eyes tracked every small movement she made, every shift in her weight.

I’d barely survived that exchange because of my instincts screaming at me. One second slower and my head would’ve been separated from my shoulders.

"Please don’t disappoint me," Kael said, a predatory grin spreading across her face.

Her feet thudded against the ground, that signature move she always made right before launching into an attack.

No, no, no...

I braced myself, forcing my eyes wide open to take in as much movement and light as possible. Every nerve in my body was screaming.

"Wait."

Ilya’s voice cut through the tension. It came from behind Kael, near where Lydia was still on the ground.

Thank god. If Ilya wasn’t here, I’d have to kiss my third life in this world goodbye.

"What now?!" Kael snapped, turning to look at her, irritation clear on her face.

Damn, she genuinely wanted to kill me, didn’t she?.

"Are you Rune?" Ilya asked, adjusting her glasses as she stepped forward.

I glanced beside her, where Lydia was finally sitting up, adjusting her skirt as feeling returned to her limbs. She looked shaken but alive.

"Yes, that’s me," I replied, though I didn’t take my eyes off Kael.

This woman was a walking nightmare to the duchy’s enemies.

But still... why was the General and the Duchess’s right hand here together? This combination only happened on missions the Duchess considered of the utmost importance.

"We’re here to escort you to the Duchess. On her orders," Ilya said as she walked toward me, her footsteps measured and precise.

They’re here for me? Why?

Because we killed some SBV nobody? No way. That wasn’t even remotely enough to send the duchy’s best forces here. There had to be more to this.

"May I know the reason?" I asked carefully.

The thing with Ilya was that she considered violence a last option, unlike her counterpart Kael. She could be reasoned with. Usually.

"I can tell you the reason," Ilya said, her tone perfectly neutral. "But then I would have to take you shackled and silence the onlookers." She gestured casually toward Lydia.

I take back everything I said about Ilya being good to reason with.

"I like the Duchess’s voice," I said, forcing a smile despite the thinly veiled threat. "I’d rather hear it from her directly."

Ilya adjusted her glasses again, and a small smile formed on her face.

Strange. She rarely smiled.

"A wise choice," she said, gesturing to Kael to stand down.

Kael lowered her fists with an audible sigh, clearly disappointed.

She really wanted to kill me.

Damn it, Kael! What happened to all those battles we fought together in my past life, huh?

"Now, please come with us," Ilya said as she walked past me.

"I will. Just give me a second," I said, moving in the opposite direction.

Kael immediately blocked my path, her scythes gleaming in the moonlight behind her back.

"It’s fine," Ilya called from behind me.

I smiled at Kael as she narrowed her eyes at me, then reluctantly stepped aside.

I ran over to Lydia. She was kneeling on the ground now, still catching her breath. I crouched down beside her.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly.

She nodded, though her eyes were filled with worry.

"It’s fine. They work for the Duchess. They mean no harm," I said.

Actually, I probably shouldn’t have said that, considering Lydia would’ve gone unconscious if I’d been even a minute late.

I placed my palm gently near her cheek. "Thanks for trying to stall them."

"I’m sorry," she replied, her eyes cast downward.

I grinned. "I have to go. Let’s meet tomorrow."

I lifted her face gently with my hand so she’d look at me.

She nodded. "I’ll be waiting near the Duchess’s castle."

Smart girl. She didn’t insist on tagging along.

"You know them from your past life, don’t you?" Lydia asked, a small smile forming on her face despite everything.

"You can tell?" I asked, surprised.

"Yeah. You wouldn’t have used the blunt edge of your sword otherwise," she said, her smile widening just slightly.

She could see the fight that clearly even when she was in that state?

I patted her head gently. "Good job. Like always, thank you."

She nodded, leaning into my touch for just a moment.

"You should go... I don’t want to get choked again," she said, smiling hesitantly, trying to make light of it.

"Yeah," I said, standing up.

"I’ll be waiting before the Duchess’s castle," she repeated, her voice a bit too casual.

I nodded and started walking back toward Ilya and Kael.

Lydia really tried to make it sound casual, even forcing that smile. But I could tell. I could see the frustration she was hiding beneath her expression, the way her hands clenched slightly at her sides.

She’d probably cry once she was alone.

I’m sorry, Lydia.

As I walked back, I remembered making sure to ask Merin to use sound cancellation before the fight started. At least the people in the orphanage were still sleeping peacefully, unaware of what had just happened outside.

With Merin here, I could probably ease a little on the potential threat from Saytans to Sera and Lydia.

"Ready?" Ilya asked as I approached.

"Yeah," I said, adjusting my grip on Blood Raven.

Kael fell into step beside me, her eyes still sharp, still watching me like I might try something funny.

I don’t know whether I should feel happy that I get to meet Cass or be anxious about the reason she sent her best duo after me or worried that my Ingot was missing.

This is going to be a long night.