The night was cold and quiet. Milo sat on the sofa, staring at his phone, hesitating to touch it, then finally put it aside and lay back on his bed. From the window, he thought he saw green eyes and a sinister smile flicker in the darkness, sending a shiver down his spine but when he looked again, there was nothing. Exhausted, he pulled the covers around him and drifted to sleep.
The next morning, Milo went through his routine and joined Milena in the kitchen.
"Milo… where were you last night?" she asked, her green eyes searching his face.
"I was just… walking around," he replied calmly.
Milena's voice grew soft but serious. "I went through your phone. That place… is it where the TroubleMakers meet?"
"Yes," Milo admitted, calm but firm. "That's the place. How did you know?"
"That much was obvious," she said, worry in her voice. "But how did you even get there? Why are you with them? You told me you'd stay away from trouble."
"I was just an ally with one of them. But it's over now. I didn't do anything just visited their place," Milo explained, exhaling as if releasing a weight.
Milena's tone softened, a hint of relief in her voice, though worry still lingered in her eyes.
"Milo… will you be alright? They're not planning to hurt you, are they?"
Milo gave a small reassuring smile and shook his head.
"No, don't worry," he said gently. "I'm away from them now."
After talking with his sister, Milo left the house. Novara's streets were quiet, bathed in the fading sunset. Shadows stretched across cobblestones, lanterns cast a soft glow, and the air smelled of fresh bread, distant smoke, and the river. Leaves rustled gently, whispering secrets hidden in the night.
Inside the house, Milena sat quietly, holding her phone, and spoke softly but firmly:
"This is just to make sure he won't get hurt."
Milo walked slowly through the quiet streets.
"Ugh… boredom is unbearable these days," he muttered to himself.
"But anyway… only twenty two days left until the test to become an adventurer and leave Novara."
"Ah… why not visit Sally lyn?" Milo thought aloud, a faint smile crossing his face.
He decided to head to Sally's house to see her.
As Milo walked through the narrow streets, his footsteps echoed softly. Behind him, another pair of footsteps followed a hooded figure with a single red strand of hair glinting in the twilight.
Meanwhile, Sally was in her room, taking a few pictures on her phone, when her mother called,
"Sally! Someone's here to see you!"
Curious, she set her phone aside and opened the door, her eyes widening at the sight of Milo.
"Yo, Sally! How are you?" Milo asked, waving with a light smile.
Sally returned his smile, a mix of surprise and delight on her face.
"Milo! So it was you waiting for me!"
"How's your hand? Any injuries?" Milo asked, concern in his voice.
"I'm fine," Sally replied softly, smiling. "Almost fully healed. The treatment here in Novara is the best!"
Milo chuckled. "You're right."
Sally remembered. "Ah, I was about to go out to buy some clothes. Will you come with me, Milo?"
"Alright, I'll go with you," Milo replied.
The streets of Novara glowed in the late afternoon sun, shadows stretching across the cobblestones. A breeze carried the scents of baked bread, distant incense, and river mist. Lanterns flickered faintly, and the sky shifted to soft oranges and purples, wrapping the city in a calm, mysterious light.
At the small market, shops brimmed with bright fabrics and the smells of spices and fresh bread. Laughter and vendors' calls filled the alleys. Sally examined clothes, laughing lightly at the unusual colors, while Milo watched her, a quiet smile on his face.
Yet, a nagging unease lingered he felt unseen eyes tracking them, a hidden presence stirring tension beneath the cheerful scene.
After shopping, they parted ways. Milo walked with a cautious, thoughtful pace, still sensing he was being watched, while Sally disappeared into the crowd, carefree.
Breaking into a run, Milo headed straight for the poor district. His breaths came sharp in the cold air as he typed quickly on his phone:
"Why are you following me? Do you think I wouldn't notice?"
He dashed through narrow alleys and worn streets until the orphanage appeared under the dim glow of evening.
Lucas called out to Milo,
"Milo, what are you doing here?"
Milo glanced at him, then sprinted toward him.
"Where… where is Toxifar?"
Lucas looked at Milo, noticing how exhausted he was from running.
"Take… take a breath first."
Milo, panting from the run, replied,
"Just tell me, I need to know."
Lucas answered honestly,
"I don't know."
Milo left him and immediately set off, determined to head to the Troublemakers' headquarters.
As he ran, a message arrived. He stopped and pulled out his phone, seeing a reply from Toxifar:
"What do you mean that I'm following you?"
Milo stood in place, panting from the run, and muttered to himself,
"What? If it wasn't really him following me, then who was it?"
Milo froze, footsteps echoing behind him. Turning, he spotted a figure approaching Raiza. Her katana rested at her side, her posture calm but alert, her dark eyes sharp and focused. The air around her carried a quiet tension, signaling this encounter was far from casual.
Milo's eyes widened in surprise.
Raiza let out a light sigh, holding the sheath of her sword.
"Alas… some saw me carrying this and suspected trouble because of your caution, Milo. Honestly… I didn't expect you to notice I was following you."
Milo's brow furrowed.
"H-How do you know my name? And… who are you?" he demanded, voice tense.
Ignoring his questions, Raiza tilted her head, a faint, unsettling smile crossing her face.
"But tell me… why did you come here? Did you lure me after realizing I was following you? Or were you tracking someone else and ended up here?"
She paused, her gaze unwavering. "Either way… no one will hear what happens between us now."
Milo's eyes narrowed.
"You… were you following me?"
Raiza said nothing. She drew her katana, tossing aside the scabbard, and assumed a combat stance.
"I'm Raiza, a member of the Talented. One of Lord Tavian's guards. He ordered me to bring you with me."
Milo looked at her, taking a deep breath to calm himself.
"As Toxifar said… you're going to target me after everything."
Milo shifted, muscles tensed, eyes sharp. The faint scar on his jaw caught the dim light, his stance balanced, ready for anything.
Raiza stood like a warrior, feet firm, shoulders squared, her black-and-red hair swaying as she gripped her katana. Her dark eyes glinted with focus and hostility.
Milo tried to stay calm.
"Listen… let's avoid fighting. I don't want to hurt you…"
Before he could finish, Raiza lunged, katana flashing toward him.
Milo barely dodged, stumbling briefly before regaining his footing.
Raiza pressed forward, raising her sword high and slashing down sharply. Milo stepped back, tense, ready for the next move.
Milo spreads his energy, ready for Raiza.
Raiza looks at him and laughs with disgust.
"Ah, not bad."
Raiza spreads her energy and charges her katana with it.
Milo emits a transparent energy, while she radiates a crimson aura.
Milo notices the intense energy emanating from her sword.
Raiza plants her feet firmly on the ground and unleashes a slash aimed at Milo.
Milo stood ready for the fast strike coming toward him.
He gathered his energy around his hands and blocked the slash with all his strength.
"Ahhhhh!"
Raiza looked at him with a mix of surprise and disdain.
"Oh, just with your hands? Not bad at all," she said, her tone dripping with mockery.
Milo redirected the slash, sending it in another direction,
noticing that his hands were scratched from the force of the impact.
Raiza lunged at Milo directly, while he was still panting.
She aimed her sword at him, trying to slice him in half.
Milo reacted fast, blocking her katana with his hand.
A loud clash echoed as their weapons met.
Raiza swung again, aiming to slice through his arm, but Milo's energy shield flared, protecting his entire body.
Milo raised his other hand and threw a punch at her.
Raiza quickly stepped back, narrowly avoiding his strike.
Milo asked Raiza calmly,
"Is that sword of yours a Legendary Weapon?"
She replied also calm
"No, it's not. It's just an ordinary sword."
Milo stood upright.
"I'm serious I don't want to fight you."
"And I don't understand your people's reason for bringing me here," Milo said firmly. "I attacked one of you because he hurt my friend."
Raiza's expression shifted in surprise.
"You mean… you killed him?" she asked.
Milo's eyes widened in shock.
"Kill him? What do you mean?"
Raiza let out a sharp breath, her gaze turning cold and filled with hatred.
"You… or maybe it wasn't you who killed him," she said bitterly.
Milo's confusion deepened.
"What do you mean I killed him?"
Raiza lowered her sword, her voice heavy.
"Braund is dead. His squad… all gone last night. We don't know who did it. That's why I'm here to find out if it was you."
Milo froze.
"T–Toxifar…" he whispered, disbelief in his eyes.
He suddenly turned and ran toward the Troublemakers' base.
Raiza raised her sword sharply.
"Running from me… is suicide."
Two energy bullets shot through the air, striking her blade and forcing her back.
"Who…?" she demanded, eyes narrowing.
Milo dropped to his knees.
"L–Lucas…"
Lucas stood firm, twin pistols glowing with energy.
"I don't know what's happening," he said coldly,
"but attacking my allies means you're picking a fight with me."
Lucas shouted to Milo,
"Milo get out of here. Don't look back. I'll handle this girl."
Milo stood, wiping sweat from his brow, voice steady despite the adrenaline,
"No, Lucas. This is my fight. I'll take the consequences."
Lucas straightened, pistols ready, eyes fixed on Milo.
"This isn't your fight, Milo," he said firmly.
"Toxivar dragged you into this. You made a mistake listening to him."
Milo hesitated, then nodded slowly.
"Alright… Lucas…"
Before he could speak further, Raiza lunged, sword flashing in rapid strikes. Milo stepped back, his energy shield deflecting some blows.
Lucas aimed his pistols.
"Leave him alone!"
Suddenly, footsteps approached. A tall man with dark skin and flowing dreadlocks appeared, moving with deadly precision.
Before Lucas could react, the man launched a capoeira kick, striking Lucas in the face and sending him crashing into the wall.
Milo's eyes widened in shock.
"Lucas!"
Raiza lifted her leg and struck Milo hard in the stomach, the force making him wince in pain.
"Don't lower your guard in front of me, you fool!" she spat.
Milo staggered backward, crashing into the wall behind him, the impact sending a jolt of pain through his body.
Raiza looked toward the newcomer.
"Lazaro, I didn't ask you to intervene in this."
Lazaro dropped into a squat, turning his face to look at her.
"You owe me anyway, little swordswoman," he said with a sly smirk.
He looked toward Lucas.
"Well, what do we have here?
A young man with two lovely pistols."
"I'm Lazaro, one of the Talented, and I love to dance.
What about you, young man?"
Lucas pressed his bleeding nose with a hand as he lay on the ground.
"Oh I get it now. You're one of the Talented," he spat, rising slowly to his feet.
"I'll crush you, you damned dancer!"
On the other side, Milo pushed himself up.
"If more of you show up, this will only get worse so I have to finish this quickly," he muttered, steadying his stance.
Raiza curled a provocative smile.
"No matter how hard you fight, the outcome will be the same."
She pointed her sword toward Milo.
"Just surrender..."