"My… my lord, you know?" Elisa's voice trembled as she stared at Lucas's warm, reassuring smile, her emerald eyes wide with shock. The revelation that her secret—the thousand-gold-coin bounty on her head—was known to him left her reeling, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Mhm," Lucas nodded, his tone calm and unperturbed, as if discussing the weather. "I happened to overhear about it. You're wanted for a thousand gold coins, aren't you?"
"I…" Elisa's face paled, her breath catching in her throat. She lowered her head, her white hair falling like a curtain over her face as she grappled with a whirlwind of emotions. Words failed her; she had no idea how to respond, no way to navigate the vulnerability of her exposed identity.
"What are you so afraid of?" Lucas asked, tilting his head back to gaze at the star-strewn night sky. His voice was steady, almost gentle, but carried an undercurrent of resolve. "How long are you going to keep running? Or do you think Sedona City isn't strong enough to protect you?"
"No, it's not that!" Elisa shook her head frantically, her voice rising in protest. She opened her mouth to explain, but the words caught in her throat, choked by a flood of worries. Her life as a fugitive had taught her caution, restraint, and the heavy price of trust. The thought of bringing danger to Sedona City—of endangering Lucas, Ayesha, and the others who had risked their lives for her—weighed on her like a millstone. Their rescue had stirred something deep within her, a longing to belong, but it also deepened her fears, making her hesitate to embrace the hope they offered.
"Whatever happens to Sedona City isn't your burden to bear," Lucas said, lowering his gaze to meet hers. His dark eyes were steady, unyielding, locking onto her with an intensity that made her heart skip. "That's my responsibility as its lord. All you need to do is live—do your part, and let me handle the rest."
"What?" Elisa blinked, her mind struggling to process his words. She'd never heard such a declaration before, a statement so bold and selfless that it left her momentarily speechless. His words carried a weight that resonated deep within her, challenging the walls she'd built around herself. To hear someone—especially the lord of Sedona City—take on the burden of her fears was both humbling and overwhelming.
"My lord, you… you don't understand how bounty hunters work, do you?" Elisa stammered, her voice hesitant as she tried to articulate her concerns. The underworld's hunters were relentless, driven by greed and unbound by honor. A thousand gold coins could turn even the most loyal ally into a betrayer.
"It's just a matter of people causing trouble in Sedona City, right?" Lucas said dismissively, waving a hand as a faint smile curved his lips. "What if I create a lure even bigger than a thousand gold coins? Do you think anyone would still care about you then?"
"A lure bigger than a thousand gold coins?" Elisa's mind blanked, her brows furrowed in confusion. The leap in his logic was staggering, leaving her grasping to follow his train of thought. What could possibly overshadow such a fortune?
"You don't need to worry about that," Lucas said softly, his voice reassuring. "I've got a few ideas—two or three, at least. I'll work out the details when we're back in Sedona City." His confidence was infectious, a quiet assurance that made the impossible seem within reach. In his mind, he was already sketching plans—diversions, alliances, perhaps even a staged spectacle to shift attention away from Elisa. Each idea was a seed, waiting to be cultivated into a solution.
"This…" Elisa's gaze softened as she looked at Lucas, warmth spreading through her chest. His unwavering resolve, his willingness to shoulder her burdens, made her feel seen in a way she hadn't in years. "I… I'd love to return to Sedona City," She said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I can't work at the pizza shop anymore."
"There's a better job waiting for you," Lucas replied, his tone light but purposeful. "We'll talk more about it when we're back."
"Alright," Elisa said, nodding slowly as a tentative smile broke through her uncertainty. Lucas's words had chipped away at her defenses, stirring a flicker of hope she hadn't dared to entertain. Perhaps it was her lingering attachment to Sedona City, or maybe a desperate wish to believe in a future where she could belong. Whatever it was, she let herself lean into the possibility, if only for now.
"Thud, thud, thud…" The sound of footsteps broke the moment as Mina and Freya returned, their expressions grim, their armor still flecked with the dust and blood of their mission.
"Young master, Bonnie's gone," Mina said, her voice heavy with guilt as she lowered her head. "She burned through the ropes to escape. She's gone."
"She's got some guts," Lucas said, his brow furrowing. Burning through hemp ropes would've seared her hands—a painful, desperate act. Bonnie's ruthlessness was a stark reminder of the forces arrayed against them. "She's tougher than I thought."
"Should I track her down, young master?" Mina asked, her voice icy as she spun her military knife between her fingers, her cat ears twitching with barely restrained frustration.
"No need," Lucas said, shaking his head. "She's likely rejoined the knights by now." Bonnie's escape was an unexpected wrinkle, but the mission's core objective—rescuing Elisa—had been achieved. Chasing a fugitive into hostile territory wasn't worth the risk. "Let her go."
"Yes, lord," Mina replied, her jaw tightening as she sheathed her knife, her reluctance palpable. The failure stung, a rare blemish on her otherwise flawless record.
"Don't beat yourself up," Lucas said, reaching out to ruffle the hair between Mina's cat ears, a rare gesture of affection. "Not everything goes perfectly. That's just life." He turned to Elisa, his tone shifting to business. "Those elves—I need you to talk to them. Anyone willing to come to Sedona City is welcome. Make sure they understand that."
"Of course," Elisa said, brushing a strand of white hair behind her ear with a soft smile. "I'll explain everything. They'll love Sedona City, I'm sure of it."
"Go on, then. Get them some food," Lucas said, nodding toward the pot of steaming compressed rations Chris had prepared. The savory aroma of the broth wafted through the air, a small comfort in the cold forest night.
"Yes, lord," Elisa replied, turning to gather the elves, her voice gentle but firm as she began speaking to them in their native tongue.
"Everyone, take a break," Lucas called to Mina, Freya, and Ayesha, his voice carrying a note of camaraderie. "Eat up. We'll need our strength for the journey home."
"Yes, lord!" The beast-eared warriors replied in unison, their exhaustion tempered by the promise of rest and a hot meal.
After nearly an hour of rest, the group was revitalized. Bellies full and spirits lifted, they watched as Elisa finished her conversation with the elves. One by one, the elves nodded, their wary expressions softening as they agreed to visit Sedona City, drawn by Elisa's earnest assurances and the hope of a new start.
"Let's move out. We're going home," Lucas declared, raising a hand to signal the group. With a final glance at the forest behind them, he led the way, his heart light with the knowledge that the rescue mission had been a resounding success.
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Meanwhile, in Moth City, the aftermath of the battle painted a grim picture. The streets reeked of blood, the metallic scent mingling with the biting chill of winter. Pools of crimson had frozen into jagged patches of ice, glinting under the moonlight like macabre jewels.
"Thud, thud, thud…"
Bonnie strode into the city, her hands wrapped in tattered strips of cloth, the burns beneath throbbing with each step. Flanked by a retinue of knights, her face was a mask of fury as she surveyed the carnage. Of the hundred-plus knights under her command, over forty lay dead, their bodies strewn across the streets. Worse still, the elves—her prized captives—had been spirited away. The failure was a bitter pill, a stain on her reputation.
"Manager, should we pursue them?" The knight captain asked, his voice taut with urgency. The sting of their defeat was palpable; in mere moments, their prisoners had been snatched, and their losses made them feel like incompetent fools.
"Pursue?" Bonnie's voice was a venomous snarl, her face contorted with rage. "With what? This sorry lot? With your pathetic skills?" She gestured at the remaining knights, her words cutting like a whip. "You couldn't even keep them contained, and now you want to chase them? Are you trying to get us all killed?"
The knight captain fell silent, his head bowing in shame. The other knights followed suit, their pride shattered by the day's events. They'd been outmaneuvered, outfought, and humiliated by a force they hadn't anticipated. The memory of Lucas's relentless precision and the deadly rain of steel arrows burned in their minds, a lesson in true power.
"Haa…" Bonnie took a deep breath, her rage simmering as she turned to stare at the dark silhouette of the forest. Her mind conjured the image of Elisa, the White-Haired Enchantress, and the black-haired, black-eyed human who'd led the rescue. Hatred coiled in her chest, a serpent waiting to strike.
"Elisa, you got lucky this time," She muttered, her voice low and venomous. "A human coming to your aid? Next time, you won't be so fortunate." Lucas's face lingered in her thoughts, his calm confidence a thorn in her pride. She wouldn't forget him.
"Retreat," Bonnie ordered, her voice cold as the winter air. "We're abandoning Moth City." She turned on her heel, striding toward the city's edge, her mind already racing with the report she'd have to deliver to Lord Black Iris. The mission had failed, and she'd need to account for it. Elisa's reappearance, the devastating power of those armor-piercing bows—every detail would need to be relayed in person.
"Yes, ma'am!" The knights replied, relief washing over them. In the Black Iris organization, hierarchy was absolute, and a superior's word could mean life or death. To retreat was to live another day.
Bonnie walked through the snow, her boots crunching against the frozen ground. She tilted her head back, her eyes fixed on the vast, starry sky. "Elisa, you and that man slipped away this time," She whispered, her breath clouding in the cold. "But next time? You won't be so lucky."
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