With a sharp breath, he sank into the river, bent down, and snapped its fragile arms apart. The bones broke with a sickening crack, falling away and adding to the relentless tide flowing through the river.
He watched the skeleton sink before hauling himself out of the water, gulping in air as he climbed up onto the island of bones.
But the moment he did, he froze.
Kelly was surrounded by several people, their voices low as they whispered over the roar of battle, their faces twisted with barely hidden malice.
His heart sank.
"It's the pureblood!"
"Someone inform the three great houses."
"Hehehe… they're going to owe us favors for this news."
Their whispers made Nert feel sick to his stomach, but he forced his way through the crowd anyway, shoving past bodies until he stood in front of Kelly, making sure not a single person stepped closer to her.
"Nobody touch her!" he shouted, raising his voice above the storm of noise ripping through the air.
