"AHHHHHHHHHH!" Anna screamed, clutching her stomach, writhing in agony as the pain surged through her body.
She fell to her knees, tears streaking down her cheeks.
"You poisoned it… just as I thought," Azalea said flatly, watching her with an unreadable expression.
"Don't expect any healing potions. Endure it."
With practiced movements, he knelt by a patch of forest foliage and began mixing a hasty concoction using ingredients scavenged from their surroundings. His alchemy knowledge wasn't the best—but it was enough to craft a rudimentary detox.
Yes, they were in the forest now. They'd left the hotel hours ago. Anna had teleported them to the exact location he needed—the border between Morntelia and Ezram. Eventually, the carriage would have to pass through here. It was the only viable path, and he would be waiting.
He forced the detox down her throat. It wouldn't soothe the pain. It would only cancel out the poison's fatal effects.
Anna sobbed.
"It hurts… it hurts so much… please… just one healing potion," she begged, tears and snot mixing as she collapsed, broken.
Azalea shoved a wad of leaves into her mouth, gagging her without hesitation. "Be quiet."
The paralysis was setting in—clearly the poison she'd used was meant to activate after they reached their destination. Good thing she'd teleported them first.
Now she was limp. Useless.
He dragged her into a thick bush, stuffing her body beneath the leaves. She wouldn't interfere. Not with the gag. Not with that drug in her system.
He scaled a tree near the roadside clearing, settling into a branch with the patience of a sniper.
He didn't care how long it took.
He would find them.
....
Outside a sprawling estate, three girls lounged beneath the shade of a blooming tree, enjoying the early spring sun—until a blue-haired young man stumbled into view.
"Auston?" Cassandra was the first to rise, eyes wide. "What's wrong?"
He didn't answer right away.
His gaze landed on her, then swept to the other two girls approaching: Angelica and Nora.
"It's… Annabelle," he said, jaw clenched. "I want to join the search."
"What?" Angelica stepped forward. "You're still recovering—you can't just—"
"I know," Auston cut her off. "But it's been too long. I can feel it. If I don't find her soon…" His voice faltered. "Something bad's going to happen."
Angelica rubbed her temples, exhaling sharply. "You really are a walking storm of anxiety…"
"But don't worry," she continued, glancing at the others. "I've got intel. She was seen near the Academy three days ago."
Cassandra gasped. "Really?!"
Nora's expression tightened.
"But… why the Academy?" Auston asked, echoing the very question Angelica had been asking herself.
Something didn't add up.
Annabelle never did things without reason. She liked control. She hated unpredictability. But this? This whole sequence reeked of variables—and one variable, in particular, stood out.
The boy she was seen with.
Azalea.
If that was true…
Then something had gone very, very wrong.
"Let's go there," Auston said.
"We can't," Angelica replied immediately. "The Academy's in lockdown. Estellia is involved now. It's out of our hands."
That was a lie.
She didn't want Auston leaving again—not like this.
"Just rest. The Academy session resumes next month. You need to be at full strength when that happens." She reached up, gently touching his cheek.
"Angelica, seriously?" Cassandra snapped. "Don't."
"Oh? I wasn't aware touching my lover was illegal," Angelica smirked with an aristocratic chuckle.
"Shut up. Since when was he your lover?!"
Their bickering filled the air, but Auston wasn't listening anymore.
Only Nora noticed the distant look in his eyes.
He clenched his fist.
"Anna…" he whispered.
....
"Finally," Azalea muttered, eyes narrowing.
A carriage rolled into view after five long days of waiting.
"Hey, Anna," he called softly, glancing to the opposite tree where the pink-haired girl sat slumped. Her eyes, half-lidded and hateful, met his.
"Yes," she hissed through clenched teeth.
"The moment it gets close, destroy the road."
"What?! I—I can't just blow up the road!"
"You know what'll happen if you fail," he said coldly.
Her face twisted with rage, but she raised a shaky hand and began muttering the incantation. She had already enchanted him with a flight spell earlier—he took off, moving to a hidden vantage point above the road.
He had to be careful.
Anyone protecting that carriage would be powerful.
Azalea hovered, breath shallow, eyes fixed on the carriage.
Then—BOOM!
The road exploded.
He dove.
The second his boots touched the ground—he felt it.
Something was wrong.
ANNA.
His eyes snapped wide.
It was a trap.