Meanwhile at the Arden Estate.
The darkness lengthened over the southern perimeter of the estate as dusk settled over the mountain valley.
Outside the quiet, timber-framed walls of the Western warehouse—where the wedding banquet supplies, silk decorations, and antique family tapestries were stored—four figures dressed in pitch-black leather slunk between the stacks of seasoned firewood.
The lead arsonist, a scar-faced mercenary holding an unlit torch and a heavy glass jug of volatile alchemical oil, gestured toward the rear wooden support beams.
"Make it quick," he whispered, unscrewing the jug's cork. The pungent, sulfurous reek of fire-oil spilled into the cold night air.
"The Prince and his Vanguard are miles away at the shrine. The moment this barn lights up, the whole estate guard will panic. We slip out in the confusion."
"Are you certain no one is guarding the inside?"
One of his men muttered nervously, glancing over his shoulder. After all this was no small matter, especially infiltrating the Estate of a man with a prestige like Lucien Arden, the hero of the Empire and it's swordmaster.
That was technically a suicide mission.
"The guards are on the main gate,"
The leader spat, splashing the liquid across the base of the wooden structure. "Strike the flint."
"I am afraid that flint will not ignite,"
Suddenly a smooth, cultured voice echoed gently from the darkness above.
The four men froze.
High upon a stacked crate of ornamental lanterns sat Sora. His pristine white robes fluttered softly in the evening breeze, his arms tucked neatly into his wide sleeves. He looked down at the men with a serene, almost pitying expression.
"The elf! Could it be–"
The mercenary leader gasped, stumbling back and fumbling for his sword.
"Kill him! He's alone!"
"He is not," a dark, icy voice growled from behind them.
Before the arsonists could turn, a wave of suffocating, suffocating aura slammed into the narrow alleyway. Heavy iron-soled boots crunched against the gravel as Lucien Arden stepped out from the shadows of the warehouse overhang.
His dark eyes gleamed with lethal coldness, and the massive, jet-black broadsword resting on his shoulder hummed with dense, corrupted dark mana that made the surrounding air feel instantly heavy.
"You brought oil to my estate,"
Lucien said, his voice dangerously quiet as he took a slow, deliberate step forward.
"To burn the decorations for my wedding?"
The mercenaries panicked. Two of them lunged at Sora with drawn daggers, while the leader and the fourth man charged Lucien with raised swords.
Sora didn't even stand up. With a subtle flick of his wrist, four gleaming silver needle-blades shot from his sleeve, trailing thin strands of glowing mana. The needles struck the two attackers' shoulder joints with surgical precision—thwip-thwip!—instantly severing their nerve pathways. Both men dropped their weapons and collapsed to their knees with muffled groans.
Meanwhile, Lucien didn't even bother to swing his sword.
As the mercenary leader swung his blade at Lucien's throat, Lucien simply reached out, his gauntleted hand clamping around the sharp iron blade mid-swing. With a terrifying *CRACK*, Lucien shattered the steel bare-handed. And before the leader could register the shock, Lucien grabbed him by the throat, lifting the fully armored man off the ground with one hand and slamming him violently against the stone foundation.
The fourth mercenary dropped his sword instantly, falling to his hands and knees in the dirt.
"Don't kill us! We were ordered! Lady Ruby's agent paid us!"
Lucien tightened his grip on the leader's throat, his gaze narrowing as he looked up at Sora.
'Jerga, didn't I tell you to feast on her soul the moment she left my estate?'
["Oh well I never agreed to that, after all really wanted to see what she would do once pushed in a corner. I thought it would be fun."]
Sora glided down from the high crates, landing soundlessly on the gravel beside Lucien. He leaned down, his slender fingers plucking a small, velvet-scented pouch from the leader's belt.
"Ruby's signature perfume,"
Sora noted softly, a rare, sharp edge touching his calm tone.
"She probably wanted a fire to draw us away from the mountain road so Cassian would be isolated."
Lucien let out a low, dark growl. He tossed the unconscious mercenary leader onto the ground like trash, then looked down at the shivering survivor.
"You picked the wrong estate to mess with,"
Lucien said coldly.
"Lucien, isn't it about time you thoroughly dealt with that woman before she does anything worse than burning our wedding decorations?"
"I will personally pay her a visit as soon as possible. We did good rushing here the moment Cassian left for Solis."
Lucien sighed looking around the warehouse for a moment.
"They must have gotten an inside help as well, Sora you find the rat and deal with it all the while I pay that woman a visit. And please don't leave for Elfeheimer yet, it might still be unsafe."
"Aww Sir Arden, are you worried about me?"
"Don't flatter yourself I'm merely making precautions not to ruin my beloved's beautiful wedding day or else my moment will be ruined as well."
Sora rolled his eyes.
"Guards drag them to the dungeons and make sure to clean up here!"
Lucien commanded loudly. And within seconds, a dozen armored estate guards rushed into the alleyway, taking the bound mercenaries away with fast, disciplined teamwork. Sora stood at Lucien's side, watching the guards work.
"Make sure to sort out the situation quickly,"
Sora said, turning to Lucien.
"And make sure to come back on time to send me home, because I really need to hurry back and share the news with Elfeheimer."
"That's a promise,"
Lucien said, his tone softening slightly.
"Don't worry yourself too much about it. Ruby will be properly dealt with."
*****