The shadow that appeared behind Nina struck without hesitation, driving a dagger straight for her ribs. Nina noticed too late, panic flaring across her face as the weapon neared. Meyra's blindfold glowed with piercing crimson light, ready to intervene—but another shadow made her pause.
The dagger froze midair, caught by a strong hand crackling with lightning. The shadow assassin struggled, shock written across his face, as the grip refused to budge. Before he could strike with his other hand, a sharp crack echoed—his wrist shattered letting out a scream of pain. Before he had time to think, the hand left the broken wrist and tightened around his neck, strength compressing him until he could barely breathe.
The crowd gasped at the sudden turn of events. From a lethal strike to a timely rescue, all eyes were fixed on the figure cloaked in black who had saved Nina.
Nina's heart beat fast unaware of what she was feeling; fear, awe or relief while Meyra was amazed by his fast and precise movement.
Kaelvir, beneath his dark robe, stared coldly at the choking assassin. "I was right—he was up to no good." The assassin clawed at Kaelvir's hand, but the grip only tightened. Kaelvir's gaze flicked to Dorian across the square, sneer evident under his hood. "This is just the beginning. I'll collect the full debt very soon."
With a surge of lightning, Kaelvir crushed the assassin's throat, scattering the body to dust. The particles drifted to the ground, leaving the crowd in stunned silence. Meyra's blindfold returned to normal; her smirk had vanished, replaced by wide-eyed astonishment. A familiar scent reached her nose, pulling her thoughts toward the stranger who had saved Nina.
Nina turned to Kaelvir, eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you, sir. If not for you, I might have been badly injured… or worse."
Kaelvir smiled beneath his hood, his voice warm. "No need to worry. I'm just glad I got to you in time." Instinctively his hands moved toward her.
Nina froze slightly when his hand reached to pat her head, but she relaxed, understanding he had just saved her. The gentle gesture, paired with his calm words, soothed her, and she closed her eyes in appreciation.
A cough from Meyra reminded them they were still in public. Kaelvir turned to her, concern in his voice. "Miss, are you alright?"
Meyra's nose twitched while hoping she's correct. "Nyvar… is that you?"
Kaelvir blinked. How did she know? Surprised."You recognized me without seeing me," he murmured.
Meyra smiled faintly hearing his words. "I have sharp senses—smell, hearing. I never forget a voice or a scent."
Kaelvir's respect deepened. "Wow… that's impressive. Can people really do that?"
She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "I've had to sharpen my other senses to survive without sight. But… I'm more surprised that we meet again."
Nina leaned closer seeing they were familiar with each other. "Miss, is he the one you mentioned before?"
Meyra's tone dripped with sarcasm. "Yes—the Nyvar we searched for but never found, because he never truly existed."
Kaelvir's face heated. "I… sorry about that but I the name became real for me after that night, so you don't have to feel cheated." He added quickly, "And you never told me your real name either—only now did I know who you truly are."
Meyra's expression softened at the first comment, but her lips sneered with mischief for the second. "Did you ask for my name that night? No—you were far too busy hiding yours."
A bead of sweat slid down Kaelvir's face. She holds grudges… why didn't anyone warn me?
"You do seem to hold a grudge," he muttered.
Meyra waved her hands, her voice sincere, though Kaelvir could sense the underlying playfulness. "How can I hold a grudge against someone who saved me… and now Nina? I'm simply happy to see you again."
Their conversation was cut short by a familiar, menacing laugh. "Am I invisible to you both?" Dorian's eyes turned cold as he looked at them chatting closely. "I want the maid and that cloaked bastard dead—now!"
He said to someone beside him.
A new figure appeared beside Dorian, sword strapped to his back, black combat wear etched with snake-like patterns, hair falling past his shoulders. The ground trembled beneath his aura, more intense than a Body Ascendance cultivator. Dust and stones lifted around him.
Kaelvir's eyes narrowed. A Soulforge Realm expert? He looked to Meyra and her guards. "Please tell me you have someone of equal rank, right?"
Meyra's smile remained calm as the blindfold's tail fluttered in the wind. "If I didn't, would you run?"
Kaelvir groaned. No time for jokes…
The Soulforge expert's sword unsheathed on it's own. It levitated, spinning slowly before shooting forward at blinding speed. A white circle traced its path—a sound-barrier break, rushing straight for Kaelvir.
He froze, illusionary pain spiking as the sword appeared to have pierced his skull. "Master snap out of it—lend me your body quickly!" Nythra's voice flashed. Tension could be heard from it in his mind.
The illusion disappeared at Nythra's voice, Kaelvir woke up panicked. He only calmed down a little when Nythra spoke earlier. "But how?!"
"Do nothing. No matter what you feel, don't struggle," she instructed.
The crowd watched, horrified, as the sword hurtled toward him. Meyra's panic flared, not at the blade, but at the delay of her hidden expert. She lunged forward—but the sword scraped against a blue-black energy barrier around Kaelvir. Sparks flew, as the protective energy twisting into a smooth blue black mask; his golden eyes glimmered from behind it. Kaelvir noticed it was Nythra's mask.
Lightning arced over his body as pressure radiated like a living demon. Cracks split the ground beneath him, chunks of stone floating upward.
Kaelvir reached out with one hand, seizing the sword midair. He squeezed, and it shattered into fragments and dust. The Soulforge expert vomited blood, stunned, unable to tear his gaze from the now-revealed Kaelvir—mask and all, exuding ancient, mystical power.
Because the sword was tied to him, any harm caused to it would strike at his very soul.
Nythra's voice filled him with cold resolve. "You're next. I won't spare you."
In a blink, Kaelvir's form became an embodiment of black-blue lightning. He flickered behind the expert, hand piercing through his chest to rip out his heart. The crowd only saw him vanish and reappear, leaving silence and fear in the street—broken only by the drip of blood to the cobblestones.
Nina looked at Kaelvir with reverance; she had never seen a young man so dominating.
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