However the man wasn’t fazed by this but was rather more interested in Aurianna as he got a better look at her face.
"What a fine woman," sneered his master, who had drawn closer, his lecherous eyes staring at her. "Are you selling her? At first, I assud you were a noble, but with a ragged boy like that as your companion, it’s clear you’re just a pretty-faced commoner."
Aurianna’s lips curled in distaste, but she didn’t reply. Saem stepped forward, his voice low and steady, laced with an edge of warning. "I’d advise you to stay back. She’s my lady, and a noble."
The man’s expression flickered with a montary doubt before he brushed it off, flashing his stained teeth in a mocking grin. "Oh, my apologies, madam. I didn’t an to offend you," he said with an exaggerated bow, a glint of contempt still in his eyes. "But perhaps you’d like to join for a drink? You should know, I’m quite important around here."
Aurianna looked at him with cold indifference. "And so?"
The man puffed his chest, clearly irked by her disinterest. "Oh, and I work with the Flonkong Organization. A very prestigious association, you know. I could even give you that slave if he interests you," he sneered, glancing down at Detrius. "He’s quite entertaining in... private matters like the bed or anywhere you like it. But I don’t mind sharing him with you."
Saem’s fists were clenched, his face darkening as he took a step forward, but Aurianna’s hand shot out, stopping him. She fixed her piercing gaze on the man, her voice filled with icy disdain. "How utterly repulsive... Tell , does everyone in your organization have as foul a mouth as yours?"
The man’s smirk faltered, but before he could reply, a glittering crystal began to spread over his body. His skin hardened, his face twisted in a frozen scream as crystals covered him, until he was nothing more than a grotesque statue of crystal stone.
A hush fell over the onlookers, faces pale with shock and horror. Aurianna scanned the crowd, her lodic voice calm. "You all saw nothing."
Those who had witnessed the man’s fate nodded, expressions dazed, and returned to their business as if under a spell.
Aurianna turned, gesturing for Saem and the trembling Detrius to follow. Without a word, they trailed behind her as she strode down the street, leaving the crystallized remains of the man behind them.
As they walked in silence, Detrius glanced at her, feeling both awe and terror. For the first ti soone actually listened to his pleas. However, at that mont he knew that he had chosen soone dangerous.
"You didn’t have to kill him," Saem said calmly.
Aurianna chuckled, shrugging casually. "Well, I wanted to, so I did. And I’m sure you felt the sa, didn’t you?"
Saem let out a sigh. "Yeah, I was ready to beat him up. So people are just... rotten."
"And risk a prison sentence?" Aurianna teased, raising an eyebrow with a mischievous grin.
"Honestly, maybe," Saem replied, rolling his eyes. "He was an insufferable prick. But won’t you face jail ti for what you did?"
Aurianna laughed, flipping her hair back with a smug smile. "Please. I’ll charm my way out with a wink and a smile," she declared confidently.
Saem shot her a blank stare, clearly unimpressed, clearly judging her.
Aurianna ignored him and continued walking.
"So, what’s your plan for the boy?" Sa asked.
They both glanced back at Detrius, slumped on the ground, bruised and battered. Aurianna stopped, and she waved her hand, which began to glow softly. Imdiately, Detrius’ wounds were healed, his bruises and erased by her healing magic.
Detrius gasped, watching in shock as his cuts closed and his pain vanished as well. His once-pale, ashen skin now glowed with health. Scars that had marred his body for years were gone, and he looked at his hands, admiring his fingers. His crusty hair was now more healthy and so were his eyes. The once broken and crooked fingers and legs were healed. Tears welled in his eyes, and a fragile smile crept onto his face.
But his ragged slave clothes still clung to him.
’A healer?’ he wondered, eyeing Aurianna with suspension.
"He’s taller than I thought," Saem comnted, noting that Detrius was now standing as tall as he was, though more slender.
"Must’ve looked smaller when he was curled up like a coward," Aurianna muttered dismissively. She waved her hand. "Now, shoo, boy."
Saem stepped in, placing a steadying hand on Detrius’ shoulder. "At least let him have a bath back at the hotel. He deserves that much."
"What do you think I am? A charity?" Aurianna scoffed, crossing her arms.
Saem grinned knowingly. "If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t have saved him nor healed him."
Aurianna bristled, her expression hardening. "I just couldn’t stand that pathetic look in his eyes," she replied defensively, folding her arms tightly.
"Normally, you would’ve killed them," Saem muttered, giving Aurianna a side glance.
"If I were just so mindless killer, would you and your crew still be alive?" Aurianna replied, flashing a wild, unsettling grin.
Saem chuckled nervously. "Guess you’ve got a point there."
"Then you handle that child’s bath," she said, waving him off as she continued walking.
"No problem!" Saem replied with a grin.
After a short walk, they arrived at the hotel. Saem took Detrius to his room, helping the young demon boy wash up and find clean clothes. Once ready, they joined Aurianna, who was already seated at a table in the dining area, happily devouring her al without a care. Other guests gave her wide-eyed glances but kept their distance, admiring her from afar, not even daring to get close to her after what they saw a few days ago. But they all pretended not to see a thing. Because who would dare offend a Grand Human?
"Mind if we join?" Saem asked as he took a seat across from her, gesturing for Detrius to sit beside him. Detrius hesitated before settling in, eyeing the delicious food before them.
"Help yourself. I’ll just order more," Aurianna said with a dismissive wave.
"Thank you," Detrius murmured, gazing in awe at the food before him. When was the last ti he’d seen such a feast? Since childhood, all he’d known were scraps.
"You’re welco, kid. Eat up! She’s loaded, so she’ll cover the bill," Saem said with a grin.
Aurianna scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Tch."
Detrius looked up, his expression earnest. "Can I ask why you saved , ma’am? And... I promised myself to you, rember."
Aurianna arched an eyebrow at Saem, catching his subtly judgntal stare. "What’s with that look? Don’t get any foolish ideas," she snapped.
Then she turned to Detrius. "And as for you, slave boy, don’t flatter yourself. You bore . Be gone once you’re done here."
Saem cleared his throat, frowning. "He has a na. It’s Detrius."
"Whatever," Aurianna muttered, shrugging off his protest.
As Detrius glanced down, Aurianna’s eyes narrowed, zeroing in on the slave collar still fastened around his neck. "And let’s get rid of that thing. It’s annoying to look at," she grumbled, reaching out.
Detrius tensed, half-expecting his head to explode if she damaged the collar. But Aurianna’s fingers glowed with a faint light as she grasped it, and with a swift, decisive crack, the collar shattered.
Detrius blinked in disbelief, gingerly touching his neck. There was no pain, no explosion.
Saem gaped. "How did you do that, Aurianna?"
Aurianna shrugged nonchalantly, returning to her al. "Just a skill I picked up. Nothing special."
Detrius continued to touch his neck, the heavy weight that has been tornting him for years. The product that killed many people and forced them to do things they didn’t want to do. He was finally freed.
"That ans saving them will be a lot easier now," Saem said with a grin, his eyes lighting up. ’Teaming up with her was really the best decision I made,’ he thought.
Aurianna looked at him, her expression unreadable. "Oh, by the way, Peter t with earlier. Turns out, the real auction date is actually tonight. We’re leaving with him at 9 p.m. sharp at the front gates."
"What? How?" Saem frowned. "Isn’t that too soon? I haven’t even got the map of the place yet."
"Jugi and Avriel were supposed to handle that," Aurianna replied, tapping her head with a finger. "But we won’t need it now that Peter’s involved."
Aurianna sent a telepathic ssage to her scattered subordinates. "Change of plans. Return imdiately. I’ll share my mory of the situation so you understand. Locate Saem’s people and bring everyone back to the hotel. You’re all expected here by 9 p.m."
anwhile, Saem noticed Detrius hesitating, taking smaller, more careful bites of his food now. "Don’t hold back," Saem encouraged. "Eat as much as you like."
"Okay," Detrius replied calmly, though his eyes sparkled, a rare glimr of happiness showing through his usual stoic expression.
A few monts later, Detrius cleared his throat, daring to speak. "Can I ask... what kind of layout you needed?"
Aurianna shot him a cold, piercing glare. "I doubt that’s any of your business," she replied, voice sharp enough to make Detrius flinch slightly.
But he didn’t back down, looking back at her steadily. "Maybe I could help," he said softly, his gaze unyielding.
Saem raised an eyebrow, watching the exchange with interest. "Oh, then what do you know about the Flokong Organization?" he asked, leaning on his arm with a sly grin.
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