Lurina also lowered her head slightly.
The old man gave a small nod before looking at Aksai and Raaden again. Prince Arven turned toward them with a smile.
"My new friends," he said, "meet my 5th royal uncle, Arkaal Kaan. He will be the one to place a Poison Beast Curse on both of you. Don't worry though," Prince Arven added with a light tone. "This is only a safety measure. It will not harm you, nor will it interfere with your cultivation or your tasks."
His smile did not change. But his voice did as he said his next words.
"Well… not unless you decide to betray us."
The prince put a deliberate pause before speaking further.
"You didn't think we would simply trust your words when you offered your loyalty, did you?" he said.
Raaden swallowed hard, clearly shaken. Aksai, on the other hand, stayed calm.
