Watching Emilia disappear from view, Ace stood silently at the corner of the small apartnt, the late sunlight slicing through the dusty windows.
His work at the academy was finished for the day,so there was really no reason to linger anymore for the day.
Just then from within the system space, Lily's ssage appeared in the form of a screen.
[Master, I'm done. We are ready to leave the space anyti.]
Ace gave it a mont of thought before giving a light nod.
Without another word, he walked out of the apartnt, stepping onto the cobbled streets of Aetheria.
The city was alive, rchants shouting their wares, carriages rolling by, and students still buzzing from the day's lessons.
Ace paid them no mind.
Hands tucked loosely behind his back, he strolled through the streets with an unhurried pace, appearing no different than any bored scholar taking an evening stroll.
Soon, the towering academy gates shrank behind him. He slipped through the bustling city until the noise thinned, turning into a narrow alley lined with chipped stone walls and faded doorways.
It slled faintly of damp brick and old iron, a perfect hiding spot if you asked the locals.
Checking once, twice and then thrice to ensure he was alone, Ace flicked his fingers lightly. A soft ripple shimred in the air before him.
From the portal, Lily stepped out first, composed and alert, followed closely by the childrens and Yuri, who clutched her worn cloak tightly.
Without wasting a second, Ace handed Lily a spatial ring.
"There's around a hundred thousand of gold taels inside," he said, his voice low but firm. "Use it wisely."
He t her gaze squarely, his tone growing heavier.
"Also handle the task properly, don't leave any clue that will lead back to ."
Lily returned the nod with quiet determination.
With all that need to be said, said. Ace gave a silent glace towards Blind Dog who seed to be staring straight into his soul.
Shaking his head, he returned in the direction of his apartnt.
As his figure disappeared, Lily turned to the group. Her voice was gentle but steady.
"Alright," she said, a faint smile touching her lips, "first... let's find sothing to eat."
The children's eyes lit up at once, and they eagerly crowded around her as they made their way deeper into the city.
They soon found a lively inn tucked between two larger buildings. The scent of roasted ats and fresh bread wafted out the door, drawing wide-eyed stares from the children who hadn't had a proper al in days.
Inside, the inn was bustling. rchants laughed loudly over ale, and travelers bartered for lodging.
Lily guided the group to a quiet corner and quickly ordered plates of hearty food. Chickens, rans and a bottle of wine.
The children waited with unabashed joy while Yuri sat quietly at the edge, occasionally smiling at their antics.
But peace rarely lasted long in places like these.
A group of four n slouched at a nearby table, their bodies sagging like puppets with cut strings.
Their clothes, soaked in ale and gri, bore the stains of a dozen lost als.
One of them, eyes red-rimd and glassy, caught sight of Yuri and grinned, flashing a mouthful of yellowed, broken teeth.
"Hey... ain't that one of the Scorched village whores?" he slurred loudly, elbowing his companions.
Another leaned back in his chair, his voice carrying clear across the inn. "Hah! Wonder what she tastes like. Have you tasted her yet?"
"Hah, she, one of them who spreads her legs for a silver ingot, what do you think?"
"What a cheap whore, haha."
Their laughter, sharp and ugly, split the room.
Yuri stiffened, her fingers curling into the folds of her dress. She kept her head down, willing herself to disappear.
But the drunkards' laughter only grew louder, their footsteps scraping over the wooden floor as they staggered toward her, heavy, unhurried, like predators toying with easy prey.
They rose from their table in a crooked pack, bumping into chairs and knocking over a half-empty mug, leaving a trail of spilled ale behind them.
Their foul breath and slurred taunts broke over the inn's quiet like a sour, rolling wave as they closed in on Yuri and the kids table.
Blind Dog having sensed the shift in the air imdiately stood up, trembling slightly, but bravely placed himself between Yuri and the advancing n.
One of the drunkards chuckled darkly. "Look at this little hero," he slurred, reaching out to shove the boy aside.
He never got the chance.
Lily, who had been calmly watching from the side suddenly made her move.
In a blink of an eye, she was already in front of them. And with silent, swift and unstoppable action, Lily grabbed his wrist with bone-snapping force before the drunkard's hand could even graze Blind Dog.
A simple twist, a swift kick, and the man crumpled to the floor, groaning.
His companions also barely had any ti to react before Lily quickly dismantled them with the sa cold efficiency of earlier.
A sweep of the legs, a jab to the ribs, and then a painful shove into the floorboards.
The inn fell into stunned silence as they watched the swift beating with no ti to intervene.
Dusting off her sleeves, Lily turned to the wide-eyed innkeeper with a smile.
"These n," she said coolly, as if comnting on the weather, "will be paying for our al. Now, don't dilly dally, go on, bring out your fanciest and the tastiest als. I'm hungry."
The innkeeper nodded furiously, eager to comply, not daring enough to deny.
Yuri quickly grabbed Blind Dog back into his seat, her hands shaking slightly, not from fear, but from sheer relief.
The children hesitated for a mont, then, seeing Lily's calm smile, resud being in a carefree manner.
Lily sat back down and rested her back on the chair, like as if the task she just did put a toll on her body!
Reviews
All reviews (0)