Ivan did as he was warned.
He stopped, then moved his gaze around to fix it on Casey — her dominant hand was tight around the hilt of the sheathed shashka at her hip.
The first thing Ivan did was calculate the distance. It seemed safe enough. She was far and hadn't activated her Origin Card yet.
Around her, everyone had stopped in their tracks.
Even the ones who had already started crossing the waters ceased propelling their rafts and turned their heads back toward the shore.
A bewildered silence fell over the entire wetland, broken only by the lapping of the river's tumultuous current.
"...Lady Casey?" Irina hesitated, confused as she stepped between the two. "What… are you doing? Why are you drawing your sword on Ivan?"
Casey didn't take her eyes off him. "Irina, get behind me. Now."
Her face was composed, but her heart was hammering. The situation was not good. Ivan was dangerously close to the water.
