The oppressive silence thickened, broken only by the ragged sound of their own breathing. Hidden in the shadows of the twisted trees, Luca's knuckles whitened around his sabers. His eyes flicked toward Aurelia, whose violet gaze shimmered with fury, but beneath that fire a rare uncertainty lingered.
"Did… he discover us? And what do they mean by sacrifice?" she whispered, her grip tightening around her spear.
Luca's jaw clenched, his expression grave. His eyes stayed locked on the cloaked figure. "I don't know… but it seems that… we've been baited to come here." His voice was low, steady, but a cold weight pressed into his chest.
The screeching, ugly voice cut through the still afternoon again.
"If you don't come out…"
Luca and Aurelia exchanged one sharp nod. No more hesitation. In a blur of movement, they burst out of hiding—sabers flashing with a golden glint in the sunlight, Aurelia's spear humming with sharp intent.
