Kate watched angrily as Leo and Elena packed their bags in a hurry. For nearly ten minutes, she rained every insult she could muster on Elena, but the young woman couldn't have cared less.
When the last item was finally shoved into the bag, Leo slung it over his shoulder and turned to leave.
"Elena!!" Kate screamed.
Elena turned slowly. The irritation on her face was impossible to hide.
"What?"
"If you step out of this place right now, don't even think of coming back here again," Kate spat. "You will no longer have a home under this roof."
Elena arched a brow. "Is that a threat?"
She scoffed lightly. "This tavern is run by me. If you kick me out, will you be able to handle it?"
Kate clicked her tongue. "You're getting cocky."
Then her expression shifted. Her anger melted into something closer to fear as she looked at her son.
"Leo… my son." Her voice trembled. "Please don't leave me. I can't lose you too. You're the only one I have left in this world."
Elena clenched her fists, envy twisting painfully in her chest.
If only I knew who my parents were.
The need to be loved and seen by someone cut through her like paper.
"Don't worry about me—" Leo began.
"She's right," Elena cut in.
Both of them stared at her.
"What?" Leo asked.
"This is dangerous," Elena said calmly. "Too dangerous. It would be pointless if we both lost our lives."
Kate looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. "You are—"
"Yes," Elena continued firmly. "I'll go alone. Leo stays."
"No!" Leo snapped. "I won't allow it. You're just a girl. You won't survive the forest on your own. You don't even have your powers yet, Elena.."
"I'm not just a girl," Elena shot back. "I know the path I'm choosing is dangerous. I know there will be challenges—and Leo.." She turned to face him. "You would be a great help."
She paused, her voice softening.
"But I can't stand the look on your face, Aunt."
Kate frowned. "What look?"
"The worry," Elena said quietly. "The love you have for him is written all over your eyes. I respect that."
Leo stepped forward and grabbed her shoulders. "I can't let you leave alone."
"This is my final decision."
Elena walked toward the door and stopped, her back still turned to them.
"If I come back alive," she said, voice steady, "I want you to promise me something, Aunt. You will tell me who I truly am."
Kate gasped, staggering back.
"How did you know?"
Elena didn't answer. She only sighed and slammed the door shut. The sound echoed through the tavern.
Leo stood frozen beside his mother, both of them too shocked to speak.
Kate stared at the door long after Elena was gone, an emotion she couldn't name tightening her chest.
"I hope you return alive, child," she whispered.
She turned toward the stairs. "Leo. Close the tavern. We're not opening tonight."
Leo tightened his grip on the bag and stormed upstairs without a word.
***
Amber lay motionless beneath a cluster of bushes, her body perfectly still.
Her red eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, startling nearby animals. One by one, they scattered, driven by instinct.
Yami moved silently between the trees, swift and precise. The guards stationed around the village perimeter never heard him coming.
A shadow shifted.
Moments later, a body collapsed to the ground.
It happened again—and again—until the outskirts were silent. All except one.
Yami whistled softly. A signal.
Amber slipped down the slope, a small dagger clenched in her hand.
"Wow," she murmured. "You're… efficient."
"I've trained myself to push past my limits," Yami replied calmly. "Consider this proof that I'm your best chance at avenging your father."
Amber hesitated. "You still haven't told me who you are. Or why you're helping me."
The captured guard whimpered, and Yami struck him sharply.
"Quiet."
"This isn't the time," Yami said. "Nor the place."
Amber sighed. "You're right."
They dragged the man into an abandoned shed near the village houses and shoved him inside.
"Now," Yami said coldly, "where are the boxes?"
"I—I don't know what you're talking about," the guard stammered.
"Don't play dumb."
"I swear—ahhh!"
The man screamed as Yami pressed against an open wound.
"I won't ask again," Yami growled. "Where are they?"
"I really don't know the boxes you are talking about!" The man replied groaning in pain.
"Some days ago, a few boxes was brought to this village and they contained transformation potions..."
"T-transformation potions?!" He gasped his eyes widening in pure horror.
Amber tapped her foot impatiently, glancing around the dim shed. Moonlight filtered weakly through a small window.
Then she noticed movement.
Her eyes narrowed.
A dark object rose slowly into the air.
"Is there a ghost in here…?" she muttered.
Realization struck her hard.
"Yami—move!!"
The object shot forward. Yami rolled just in time, barely avoiding the attack.
"What the hell was that?" he snapped.
"He's a mind-control user," Amber said sharply. "He manipulates objects."
The object tore itself free from the wall and hurtled toward her.
Amber thrust out her hand. A powerful gust of wind knocked it aside.
"You bastard!" Yami roared, striking the guard until he collapsed.
"Just kill me," the man croaked.
"You can't die yet.. You have to tell me where to find the boxes. If you don't, I won't mind breaking into everyone's home in search for it."
Yami turned to Amber. "Your dagger."
She handed it over.
"Let's see how well you control things through pain."
Moments later, the guard broke.
"The boxes are in the village leader's office," he sobbed.
"How do I find it?"
"Straight ahead… near the center."
Yami stepped back.
"You've been helpful," he said quietly. "But I repay debts."
"You cursed demons will never succeed. You will be stopped. The king has—" He never completed his sentence.
His head hit the floor with a thud, rolling into a piece of hay. Eyes hauntingly open.
Yami wiped his axe clean and straightened.
"That's done."
Amber's eyes flickered.
"Yami… no more killing tonight."
He paused. "What?"
"I've had enough of bloodshed. If someone gets in our away, knock them out."
He chuckled softly. "For someone driven by revenge, you're surprisingly soft."
Then he nodded. "Very well. I'll respect your wishes."
They stepped outside.
Amber lingered, her gaze drifting to a dark corner of the shed.
Hidden behind a cluster of large farming tools, a small girl crouched there, shaking, tears streaming silently down her face.
Amber's eyes hardened—then softened.
She placed a finger to her lips.
"Shhh," she whispered. "You don't want him to hear you."
Behind her, footsteps stopped.
***
Hello my lovely readers!
I will be changing my update schedule from next week.
New chapters will be on, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday by 6pm WAT.
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