Imina's hands gripped the twin daggers at her waist, sweat seeping into her palms, her usually cold face etched with unprecedented gravity.
The air grew heavy with tension.
"You sure you want to take on four alone?" Adam's calm voice came from behind.
"If you're not planning to run, that's ideal." Imina replied, her eyelid twitching. If the setting weren't so dire, she'd have let loose with her harshest curse.
The last time she'd sensed danger from Adam, she still didn't believe an alchemist with such talent would waste energy on combat.
She wasn't skilled in close-quarters fighting, and the guy behind her, a magic caster, was likely just as unsuited for it.
This situation was perilous.
Adam glanced at Imina, mildly surprised. Their relationship was more of a verbal contract, a loose employer-employee arrangement.
Yet, faced with this threat, Imina hadn't fled. That didn't quite fit her usual demeanor.
"What're you spacing out for? Cast every buff spell you've got on me." Imina hissed, her left dagger raised across her chest, the right held low at her waist. Her body crouched, poised like a leopard ready to strike.
As a half-elf, she was an outsider to both elves and humans.
Even in the Baharuth Empire, which wasn't overtly hostile to demi-humans, the disdainful stares never ceased.
She despised those looks just as much.
But the man behind her? From their first meeting, he'd never once looked at her with that kind of judgment.
"Sorry, I don't have any spells like that." Adam said, spreading his hands.
Imina's eye twitched twice.
"Hey, you two done chatting?" One of the three masked intruders called out, his tone mocking.
The man in front wielded a silver short sword, its blade glinting coldly under the moonlight.
"We don't mean any harm. We just want the alchemist to come with us." He said, his voice light as he spread his arms.
According to their employer's intel, the only real threats by the alchemist's side were the Invisible Hound and the half-elf woman.
"Seriously, a mongrel like you shouldn't be making a scene. You know you're disgusting, right? No chest, no hips, thought you were a guy." Another intruder, wielding chains, sneered. He draped the chains around his neck, smirking at Imina.
Veins pulsed on Imina's pale, slender neck, but her expression remained unchanged, her stance vigilant.
"This prey's ours, so beat it, alright?" The short-sword man said, turning to the gray-robed figure at the gate, his tone icy.
The gray-robed figure ignored the intruders, their voice clear and melodious. "Looks like you're in trouble."
"Need help? No payment required."
At the word "payment." A faint chuckle laced the gray-robed figure's voice.
A woman?
Imina's gaze sharpened, a flicker of irritation crossing her face.
The jab about "payment" was clearly aimed at her.
"Bastard!" The chain-wielding man roared, catching the disdain in the gray-robed woman's tone.
"You're asking for it!" The short-sword man snapped, raising a hand. "You two deal with the half-elf. This one's mine."
As his words fell, "Haste!"
The short-sword man's body flashed, vanishing from his spot as he lunged at the gray-robed woman.
But in the next instant, the woman moved faster, appearing before him. Before he could react, a ferocious punch slammed into his chest.
Crack!
The sound of snapping ribs echoed through the courtyard. Before the man could scream, the woman crossed her arms, seized his neck, and twisted sharply. The scream died in his throat.
"Boss!"
"Boss!"
The other two intruders froze in disbelief, barely moving before the woman acted again.
She hoisted the short-sword man's corpse with one hand, hurling it at the chain-wielder, then kicked off the ground, pouncing on the third intruder.
By the time the chain-wielder shoved the corpse off himself, the woman was already holding his other companion's body.
"You… you…" The chain-wielder stammered, trembling as he swung his chains at her in panic.
"Fortress."
The woman tossed the corpse aside, drew the long sword from its sheath, and casually raised it.
A green glow flickered on the blade.
The chain's force was effortlessly deflected.
Whoosh!
With a flick of her wrist, the woman sent the sword flying, its sharp whistle piercing the air as it lodged in the chain-wielder's chest.
The entire fight lasted less than half a minute, a complete rout.
Imina, watching, felt sweat bead on her forehead.
So strong!
The gray-robed woman's combat was ruthless and precise, honed through years of battle.
"He's still got a breath left." The woman said, lifting the barely alive chain-wielder as she approached Adam and Imina, her crisp voice ringing out. "Want to ask who sent these three workers?"
Imina's gaze was wary as she studied the slender figure beneath the gray robe. Her daggers lowered slightly.
The chain-wielder, the one who'd insulted her, was in the woman's grasp.
Clearly, the woman was showing goodwill, signaling she meant no harm.
Imina didn't respond, instead glancing back at Adam.
"No need." Adam said, shaking his head.
The woman paused, still holding the chain-wielder. "Is that so?"
Crack!
She snapped his neck and dropped him to the ground.
As the woman drew closer, both Adam and Imina caught a heavy fragrance.
The scent was so strong that the Invisible Hound, with its keen senses, shook its head several times.
Adam's eyes locked onto the woman. The overpowering perfume, clearly meant to mask something, sparked a glint in his gaze.
She'd finally shown up.
Swish!
The gray hood was thrown back.
A woman with light golden hair tied loosely at the back appeared. Her skin was fair, her features refined, with soft lips and deep blue eyes.
She looked about twenty, her right face obscured by falling golden locks, revealing only half her visage.
As the robe opened, the perfume grew even stronger, causing Imina to wrinkle her nose.
"My apologies for the late-night visit." The woman said, bowing slightly with a respectful tone. "I am Leinas. I have a matter to discuss with the alchemist."
She glanced at Imina as she spoke.
Not giving her full name?
Adam had been waiting for her. Now that she stood before him, he felt no surge of excitement, his tone calm and warm. "Thank you for your assistance, Miss Leinas."
"Imina, please handle the bodies."
Hm?
Imina blinked, her guarded stance unwavering, and shot Adam a surprised look.
Handle the bodies? This was clearly a move to get her out of the way.
"Fine."
After a brief silence, Imina sheathed her daggers, stepped forward, and dragged the chain-wielder's corpse toward the far end of the courtyard.
***
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