Warm orange sunlight stretched across the bishop's chambers through fractured fortress windows while drifting dust moved slowly through the illuminated air above overturned furniture and scattered parchment spread across the floor. Torn curtains shifted softly beneath the evening airflow entering through cracks in the damaged stone walls, and the weakened holy pressure lingering throughout the ruined fortress continued fading gradually beneath the heavier blood aura circulating quietly around the room.
Noctis opened his eyes slowly while loose strands of black hair rested across his chest beneath the warm sunlight crossing the bed. The fortress creaked intermittently around them beneath the lingering structural damage spread throughout the stronghold, and distant wind carried faint traces of drifting ash and dust through the broken windows overlooking the ruined courtyard outside.
Nocthyrael was already awake.
She rested quietly against him while crimson eyes followed his movements beneath the orange evening light stretching across the bed and surrounding floor. One hand remained lightly against his chest while black feathers shifted softly behind her through the airflow moving continuously through the damaged room.
The corner of Noctis's mouth lifted slightly.
"Do you want to head out now?"
Nocthyrael nodded gently while sunlight reflected faintly through the crimson gem of the Eye of Veinheart resting against her chest.
"I do."
Both slowly sat upright afterward while drifting dust continued moving through the room around them beneath the lowering sunlight entering through the fractured windows.
Blood aura circulated outward from Noctis first.
Crimson currents rolled softly across his body while dark armor plates gradually formed across his chest, shoulders, arms, and waist beneath the shifting evening light. The trench coat followed afterward, the material forming naturally from rotating blood mana while the lower edges moved lightly through the airflow crossing the damaged chamber.
Nocthyrael manifested her armor moments later.
Crimson-black plating spread gradually across her body beneath shifting blood aura while the mantle attached around her waist settled softly against her legs. Slits along the back of the armor adjusted naturally around the black wings extending faintly behind her while warm sunset light reflected across the crimson veins pulsing beneath the darkened plating.
Loose parchment shifted across the floor while both stood from the bed.
Noctis glanced briefly through the room afterward.
Broken shelves leaned sideways against cracked walls while dried blood from the previous bishop still stained sections of overturned furniture near the far corner. Dust continued drifting through the sunlight stretching across the room while weakened holy pressure leaked faintly through the fortress stone beneath the surrounding blood aura.
Then Noctis reached for Nocthyrael's hand.
She took it immediately.
Both left the chambers together afterward while the fortress continued creaking softly around them beneath the evening wind moving through broken corridors and damaged halls.
The exterior fortress courtyard looked quieter beneath the setting sun.
Long shadows stretched across shattered stone pathways while loose debris shifted intermittently beneath the evening breeze crossing through collapsed walls and fractured towers. Several damaged holy wards embedded within the outer structures still flickered weakly beneath the fading sunlight while drifting ash and dust rolled across the ruined courtyard around them.
Nocthyrael walked naturally beside Noctis while black feathers shifted softly through the evening airflow moving around both bodies. The Eye of Veinheart rested against her chest beneath the armor while faint bloodline resonance pulsed intermittently through the crimson gem.
The sun continued lowering steadily behind the distant mountains beyond the ruined fortress walls.
Orange light crossed the damaged landscape while long stretches of grass bent gently beneath the evening wind moving through the wilderness surrounding the destroyed stronghold.
After some distance, Noctis glanced toward Nocthyrael.
"We can fly from here," he said while the evening airflow moved the edges of his trench coat softly around his legs. "Or I can teleport us back directly."
Nocthyrael looked outward across the distant landscape beneath the setting sunlight.
The sky had begun shifting gradually toward darker shades of crimson and violet while drifting clouds crossed slowly above the horizon.
"Is it necessary to return quickly?"
"No." Loose grass shifted around both of them while distant wildlife sounds carried faintly through the evening air beyond the ruined fortress grounds. "The mission team should still be resting in the ravine."
Nocthyrael looked back toward him afterward.
"Then can we walk slowly instead?" Warm sunset light reflected softly across her crimson eyes while black feathers shifted behind her through the moving wind. "There are things I want to discuss with you."
Noctis nodded once.
"Of course."
Both continued walking afterward beneath the lowering evening sun.
The path stretched gradually downward through broken wilderness terrain surrounding the fortress while scattered trees moved softly through the evening wind crossing the distant hills. Loose dirt shifted beneath their footsteps while drifting dust occasionally lifted through the airflow moving around them.
Nocthyrael gradually moved closer beside him during the walk.
Then she looped one arm gently around his.
Her body leaned lightly against his shoulder afterward while black feathers shifted softly behind her through the evening breeze.
Noctis glanced toward her briefly.
The fallen angel remained relaxed beside him while warm sunset light reflected faintly across the crimson-black armor covering her body.
Both continued walking quietly for a while afterward while the environment remained filled with moving grass, drifting dust, distant wildlife calls, shifting tree branches, and the low sound of evening wind crossing the wilderness around them.
Eventually Noctis spoke.
"What questions were on your mind?"
Nocthyrael lifted her head slightly from his shoulder while loose strands of black hair shifted through the moving airflow around them.
"Master—"
Noctis raised one hand immediately.
Nocthyrael blinked once.
"There's a condition before we continue."
Warm evening wind crossed between them while grass bent continuously around the narrow path beneath the lowering sunlight.
Nocthyrael looked confused.
"What condition?"
Noctis glanced sideways toward her while the corner of his mouth lifted faintly.
"I want you to stop calling me 'Master.'"
Nocthyrael stared at him for several seconds while black feathers shifted softly behind her through the evening breeze.
"What should I call you instead?"
Noctis shrugged slightly.
"Something more affectionate." The edges of his trench coat moved softly through the wind while loose dirt shifted beneath their continuing footsteps. "Dear. Dearest. Honey. My love. Anything besides 'Master.'"
Nocthyrael stared at him again.
Then laughter escaped her.
Her shoulders shook visibly while she covered part of her face with one hand and black feathers shifted around her through the evening airflow crossing the hillside path. Warm sunset light reflected across the tears forming faintly near the corners of her eyes while the wilderness around them remained filled with moving grass and distant rustling trees beneath the lowering sky.
Noctis watched quietly while she continued laughing.
Eventually Nocthyrael wiped lightly beneath one eye.
"Okay," she said while another small laugh escaped her. "Then I'll be in your care… my love."
Noctis nodded once in visible satisfaction.
"That sounds much better."
Nocthyrael smiled afterward while tightening her arm slightly around his.
Then her expression shifted thoughtfully.
"My love," she began again while evening wind moved loose strands of hair across her shoulder, "you have a movement skill called Genesis Step. But no matter how much I try, I can't use it at all."
Noctis nodded slightly.
"That's expected."
The wilderness path curved gradually downward while loose grass shifted around both of them beneath the moving evening airflow.
"Genesis Step isn't a normal movement skill," Noctis continued while blood aura circulated faintly around his body beneath the sunset light crossing the landscape. "It was created by merging several movement abilities together."
Nocthyrael listened quietly beside him.
"Phantom Dash." Noctis accelerated forward briefly afterward while dust burst lightly beneath his feet and grass bent sharply away from the displaced airflow. His body crossed several meters instantly before slowing again naturally beside her. "That one focuses on acceleration."
Nocthyrael watched the disturbed grass settling behind him.
Noctis raised one hand toward a nearby tree afterward.
"Ghost Vein."
His hand pushed directly through the thick trunk.
The bark distorted faintly around his arm while drifting leaves shook lightly through the evening wind crossing the surrounding trees.
Nocthyrael's crimson eyes widened slightly.
"Intangibility," Noctis explained while withdrawing his arm from the tree trunk. "Useful for bypassing obstacles or attacks."
Both resumed walking afterward beneath the gradually darkening sky overhead.
"Wraith Step allows movement through shadowed space."
Noctis stepped sideways toward a darker section beneath the surrounding trees while evening shadows stretched longer across the wilderness path around them.
His body blurred briefly.
Then appeared several meters farther ahead through another shadowed section beside the rocks bordering the path.
Nocthyrael watched carefully while black feathers shifted softly behind her.
"Spectre Vein handles short-range relocation." Noctis's body distorted briefly again before reappearing beside her through faint spatial ripples moving across the surrounding air. "Less distance than Genesis Step, but easier to stabilize."
Nocthyrael looked thoughtful afterward while evening wind continued moving through the surrounding hills and grasslands beneath the lowering sun.
"And the others?"
"Seraph Step uses holy mana for directional movement enhancement." Blood aura rolled softly around Noctis beneath the fading sunlight while faint traces of holy pressure blended naturally within the circulation. "Abyssal Step manipulates abyssal pressure to distort movement vectors."
Loose leaves shifted across the path beneath the moving evening breeze while distant birds crossed overhead through the darkening sky.
Nocthyrael remained quiet for several moments afterward.
Then she looked back toward him.
"So because Genesis Step is a merged skill…" Her arm remained wrapped comfortably around his while black feathers shifted softly through the wind. "I need to learn the original movement abilities first?"
Noctis nodded.
"You inherited the instincts already." The fading sunlight stretched longer shadows across the path beneath their feet. "Your body should adapt quickly."
Nocthyrael smiled slightly afterward.
"Then teach me."
Noctis nodded once.
"Start with Phantom Dash."
Nocthyrael released his arm afterward and stepped several meters away along the grass-covered hillside path. Evening wind moved through the surrounding terrain while loose grass bent continuously beneath the airflow crossing around both bodies.
Nocthyrael lowered her stance slightly.
Blood aura circulated faintly around her legs while inherited instincts surfaced through the memories she absorbed earlier.
Then she pushed forward.
Dust burst beneath her feet while her body accelerated abruptly across the hillside path hard enough for loose grass to flatten beneath the displaced airflow trailing behind her.
Too much force.
Her balance shifted unevenly.
Nocthyrael nearly stumbled before catching herself several meters farther ahead.
The ground cracked lightly beneath one boot while loose dirt scattered across the hillside.
She looked back toward Noctis.
He walked toward her calmly while evening wind continued moving around them.
"You pushed too much mana into the acceleration." Loose grass shifted around his boots while fading sunlight reflected faintly across his trench coat. "Control the circulation first. Speed comes naturally afterward."
Nocthyrael nodded thoughtfully.
Then tried again.
This time the acceleration looked smoother.
Her body crossed forward rapidly while dust rolled lightly beneath the path and grass bent continuously around the burst of displaced airflow trailing behind her movement.
Better.
Noctis watched quietly while she practiced repeatedly during the walk beneath the gradually darkening evening sky.
After some time, Nocthyrael approached a large tree standing beside the hillside path.
"Ghost Vein next?"
Noctis nodded.
"Reduce physical resistance around your body. Don't force the mana outward. Let it thin naturally."
Nocthyrael placed one hand against the tree trunk afterward.
Blood aura circulated around her arm while faint holy pressure blended through the crimson currents moving beneath her skin.
The bark distorted slightly.
Then her hand passed directly into the trunk.
Nocthyrael blinked once while evening wind moved loose leaves overhead through the surrounding trees.
She pushed farther.
Her arm phased fully through the thick wood afterward.
A visible smile spread across her expression.
Noctis watched quietly while black feathers shifted softly behind her through the moving evening airflow.
"Good."
Nocthyrael pulled her arm back out afterward.
Then immediately tried stepping through the tree herself.
The phasing destabilized halfway.
Her shoulder struck the trunk hard enough for leaves above them to shake loose through the surrounding branches.
Nocthyrael rubbed her shoulder while laughing softly.
"That hurt."
"You destabilized the circulation too early." The fading sunlight continued lowering behind the distant mountains while shadows stretched farther through the surrounding wilderness. "Maintain the phase until your entire body passes through."
Nocthyrael nodded again.
Then tried repeatedly afterward while both continued slowly walking through the evening landscape beneath drifting wind and darkening skies.
Time passed naturally during the journey.
The wilderness gradually shifted toward twilight while distant stars began appearing faintly overhead beyond the fading crimson horizon.
Nocthyrael eventually moved through an entire tree cleanly beneath circulating blood aura and faint shadow distortion surrounding her body.
Moments later she attempted Wraith Step.
The first attempt destabilized completely.
Her body vanished partially into the shadow beneath a rock formation before abruptly reappearing several steps away through collapsing dark mist.
The second attempt looked cleaner.
By the third, she disappeared fully through the shadowed grass beneath the trees before emerging naturally beside Noctis through another darkened section farther ahead.
Black feathers shifted softly behind her afterward while visible satisfaction spread across her expression.
Noctis watched quietly while both resumed walking together beneath the deepening twilight sky overhead.
Eventually Nocthyrael attempted Spectre Vein.
Spatial distortion rippled briefly around her body while surrounding grass bent outward beneath displaced pressure. Her body vanished for an instant before reappearing several meters ahead through faint crimson distortion spreading through the evening air.
The relocation remained unstable.
But functional.
Nocthyrael turned back toward Noctis afterward while black feathers shifted softly through the cooling night wind moving across the darkening wilderness.
"How was that?"
Noctis looked toward the disturbed grass, displaced dust, and lingering spatial distortion still fading around her position beneath the twilight sky.
"You're adapting quickly."
Nocthyrael smiled afterward.
Then vanished through Wraith Step again before reappearing farther down the hillside path through shifting shadow beneath the surrounding trees.
The movement looked noticeably smoother now.
Noctis followed afterward while evening wind continued moving through the wilderness around them and the first traces of night settled gradually across the distant landscape during their continuing journey back toward the ravine.
Night settled fully across the ruined frontier territories while cold wind crossed the abandoned military roads stretching between shattered fortification lines, collapsed watch posts, and dead grasslands overtaken by years of war between the demonic territories and the Holy Church farther north. Dust rolled steadily across the cracked roadway beneath Noctis and Nocthyrael's footsteps while loose fragments of broken stone shifted intermittently whenever stronger gusts pushed through the valleys surrounding the old battlefield routes. The remains of ancient scripture markers protruded unevenly from the earth beside the road, many cracked apart through age and conflict while dead vines wrapped around their surfaces beneath layers of drifting soil and moss. Farther away, nocturnal creatures stirred through the darkness beyond the hills while distant growls, wingbeats, and movement through underbrush occasionally carried through the night air together with the steady sound of wind moving through ruined structures scattered across the borderlands.
Nocthyrael remained close beside Noctis while one arm looped naturally around his and the crimson-black armor fitted against her body shifted softly with each step beneath the cooling airflow crossing the road. Her wings remained fully retracted beneath the armor because there was no reason to expose them while traveling on foot, and the Eye of Veinheart resting against her chest beneath the armor pulsed faintly whenever blood aura circulated more heavily through her body during instinctive movement adjustments. Eclipse and Halo rested against her hips while crimson veins embedded through the pistols flickered softly beneath the darkness every time blood energy moved through the weapons in response to her emotional state.
The movement skills no longer felt foreign to her body.
Whenever uneven terrain interrupted her footing, Phantom Dash shortened the distance between steps before she consciously reacted. When deeper shadows stretched beneath broken barricades or dead trees beside the road, traces of Wraith Step folded naturally around her movement before releasing her smoothly several paces farther ahead. Spectre Vein surfaced similarly whenever unstable ground shifted beneath loose gravel or fractured stone, while Ghost Vein occasionally flickered through portions of her body whenever sharp debris or obstructing terrain entered her movement path too suddenly.
Noctis observed every adjustment quietly while the lower edge of his crimson trench coat moved continuously through the wind surrounding them.
"You stopped forcing the transitions," he said while stepping over a collapsed section of road where exposed roots pushed through old stone beneath drifting dust. Wind moved loose strands of Nocthyrael's black hair across her shoulder while she adjusted naturally around the obstruction without interrupting her pace. "Your body's already treating the skills like natural movement instead of spell activation."
Nocthyrael lowered her gaze briefly toward her own hand while faint blood aura moved beneath the skin around her fingers.
"It feels strange," she admitted while loose gravel shifted beneath both their boots and dead grass bent continuously through the airflow crossing the hills. "At first I had to consciously decide every movement. Now my body reacts before I finish thinking."
Noctis smiled faintly afterward while distant creatures rustled through brush somewhere beyond the nearby trenches.
"That's because the instincts already existed inside you." Dust curled around his boots beneath the moving wind while both continued forward through the darkened borderlands. "The blood communion transferred combat memory directly into your mind. Your body only needed enough pressure and movement repetition to trust those instincts."
Nocthyrael leaned slightly closer against his arm while continuing beside him through the cold air.
"It almost feels unfair." Her boots shifted naturally around fractured stone without breaking rhythm while traces of Phantom Dash shortened one step instinctively to avoid a partially collapsed drainage trench beside the road. "Sometimes the movement happens before I consciously decide which skill to use."
"That's normal for experienced combat instinct." Noctis glanced briefly toward her while the faint smile remained visible along his face beneath the darkness. "Eventually your body reacts faster than deliberate thought."
Nocthyrael laughed softly while the Eye of Veinheart pulsed faintly beneath the armor against her chest.
"That sounds exactly like something someone ancient would say."
Noctis chuckled quietly beneath the moving wind while dead branches scraped together somewhere beyond the roadside trees.
"You're calling your husband ancient already?"
"You corrupted an angel and turned her into a vampiric fallen angel." Nocthyrael's lips curved slightly while she looked up toward him beneath the dark sky overhead. "That sounds fairly ancient."
Noctis laughed softly while drifting dust rolled between them and the broken road ahead.
The borderlands remained continuously alive around both of them while wind crossed through the grasslands, loose debris shifted across abandoned trenches, and distant sounds from creatures moving through the hills occasionally echoed faintly beneath the night sky. Farther north, holy pressure drifted gradually through the airflow moments later together with metallic armor sounds and torchlight flickering intermittently between ruined stone barriers surrounding the road ahead.
Nocthyrael felt the approaching patrol immediately.
Her fingers brushed lightly near Eclipse resting against her waist while the holy signatures moved steadily closer through the darkness ahead.
Six signatures.
Four heavily armored.
Two priests.
The patrol advanced cautiously rather than aggressively, their spacing disciplined while torchlight shifted continuously across the cracked roadway and surrounding ruins.
Noctis noticed Nocthyrael's hand moving toward the pistol.
"You can use them."
Nocthyrael glanced toward him while wind lifted loose strands of hair around her face.
"You really won't interfere this time?"
"No." Noctis stepped around a broken spear shaft protruding from the roadside dirt while his coat shifted through the airflow surrounding them. "I want to see what happens when you stop consciously controlling every action and simply let your instincts fight."
Warmth spread faintly across Nocthyrael's expression while the approaching holy pressure continued growing closer.
"You trust me that much already?"
Noctis looked toward her afterward while drifting dust curled around both of them beneath the darkened sky.
"You already possess the instincts." A faint smile spread further along his face. "I just want to watch you use them naturally."
Nocthyrael's crimson eyes brightened slightly beneath the darkness while the patrol rounded the northern bend moments later.
Four Church knights advanced ahead in formation with shields raised and swords partially drawn while two priests followed several paces behind carrying scripture rods and chain talismans attached around their waists. Their armor looked weathered from prolonged border deployment beneath scratches, dents, dried blood stains, and faded Church insignias while holy lanterns hanging from the priests' belts cast pale gold light across the broken road and drifting dust surrounding the patrol formation.
The lead knight slowed immediately after noticing Noctis and Nocthyrael standing near the center of the abandoned roadway.
Holy pressure tightened across the formation while the priests narrowed their eyes toward Nocthyrael and shifted scripture rods upward through the darkness.
"Identify yourselves," the lead knight ordered while steel scraped softly from the sheath hanging at his waist. Wind carried the smell of torch oil and worn metal through the space between both groups while dead grass shifted continuously around the roadside trenches.
Noctis remained silent.
Nocthyrael stepped slightly forward instead while the cold wind moved loose strands of black hair across her shoulder.
"We're only passing through."
The second priest immediately raised his scripture rod higher afterward while pale holy mana flickered unevenly around the engraved metal surface.
"Demonic aura confirmed." The priest's grip tightened visibly while chain talismans at his waist began glowing faintly through the darkness. "Prepare restraints."
The lead knight drew his sword fully.
The remaining knights spread outward instinctively across the road while armor shifted, shields repositioned, and the priests moved farther behind the formation beneath flickering torchlight and drifting wind crossing the borderlands.
Nocthyrael vanished before the attack order fully left the knight's mouth.
Phantom Dash compressed the distance instantly while displaced air flattened roadside grass outward and scattered loose dust violently across the cracked roadway beneath the acceleration burst.
The patrol reacted too slowly.
Nocthyrael emerged beside the third knight while Eclipse cleared the holster beneath rotating blood aura.
The pistol fired once.
The blood bullet pierced directly through the knight's shield wrist beneath exploding blood and shattered bone fragments while the shield crashed heavily against the road beside him. The knight screamed immediately while blood sprayed across broken stone and drifting dust continued rolling through the impact area beneath the moving wind.
Nocthyrael disappeared again before the remaining knights fully turned.
Spectre Vein distorted space around her body while torchlight stretched unevenly through the displacement before she emerged behind the second knight.
Halo fired.
The blood bullet shattered directly through the rear knee joint beneath spraying blood and broken armor fragments while the knight collapsed instantly across loose gravel and fractured stone. His sword slid several meters through drifting dust before striking exposed rock near the roadside trench.
"CONTACT!"
Holy pressure erupted outward while the remaining knights rushed toward her beneath overlapping armor impacts and shifting gravel while both priests raised scripture rods behind the formation.
Nocthyrael no longer consciously selected movement skills.
The inherited combat instincts surfaced naturally now.
The lead knight swung downward toward her shoulder while another attacked from the side attempting to trap her movement path between sword and shield. Wind moved torch smoke sideways across the battlefield while loose dirt shifted beneath the charging knights' boots.
Ghost Vein activated instinctively.
The descending sword passed harmlessly through the upper half of her body while Phantom Dash shortened her movement line sideways beneath the second attack before the shield fully closed around her position. Her boots barely touched the road before Wraith Step folded around the shadow cast beneath the shield itself and carried her directly behind the nearest priest.
Eclipse fired again.
The blood bullet pierced through the priest's casting wrist beneath exploding blood and shattered bone while the scripture rod flew from numb fingers and rolled across the cracked roadway beside the priest's collapsing body. Holy mana destabilized immediately around the interrupted casting while pale sparks scattered through the darkness and faded against the drifting dust surrounding the battlefield.
The patrol formation began collapsing almost instantly afterward.
One knight turned too sharply while attempting to track her movement and nearly lost footing when loose gravel shifted beneath his boots. Another tried following her through mana fluctuations rather than vision while the remaining priest activated Holy Chains beneath expanding scripture formations spreading across broken stone and dirt around the roadway.
White-gold chains erupted upward through the battlefield.
Empty.
Nocthyrael had already moved.
Phantom Dash carried her directly through the outer edge of the restraint formation before the chains stabilized while displaced pressure flattened nearby grass and sent dirt spraying outward across the road. The remaining priest raised his scripture rod desperately toward her while holy mana surged unevenly around the weapon.
A holy projectile erupted forward.
Ghost Vein flickered again.
The attack passed harmlessly through her torso while she continued moving without interruption.
Halo fired.
The blood bullet pierced directly through the priest's thigh beneath exploding blood and fractured bone while the destabilized Holy Chains collapsed immediately around the battlefield into fading fragments of holy mana.
The priest screamed and collapsed sideways against the road while blood spread steadily beneath him through drifting dust and loose gravel.
Noctis observed quietly from farther down the roadway while cold wind crossed through the borderlands around him and torchlight flickered continuously across scattered weapons, broken chain formations, and blood stains spreading through the battlefield beneath the darkened sky.
A proud smile remained visible along his face.
Nocthyrael's movement rhythm had already changed completely.
She no longer fought cautiously.
The spacing between attacks, repositioning angles, and movement chaining flowed naturally together beneath the inherited combat instincts circulating through her body.
One knight attempted forcing her backward through aggressive shield pressure while the lead knight advanced simultaneously from the side hoping to collapse her movement options beneath overlapping attack angles.
Nocthyrael moved directly toward them instead.
Phantom Dash compressed the distance instantly beneath displaced air pressure while Eclipse rotated upward beneath her movement.
The pistol fired once.
The blood bullet shattered through the shield knight's elbow beneath exploding armor fragments and blood while the shield immediately dropped uselessly against the road.
Before the knight fully processed the injury, Wraith Step folded around the shadow beneath his own body and carried Nocthyrael behind him.
Halo pressed lightly against the rear of his helmet.
The pistol did not fire.
The knight froze completely while cold wind crossed through the battlefield around them and blood continued dripping steadily from his ruined arm onto the cracked roadway below.
Nocthyrael vanished again through Spectre Vein before the remaining standing knight completed his attack swing.
The sword carved harmlessly through drifting dust while she emerged beside the injured knight collapsed near the roadside trench.
Eclipse fired downward.
The blood bullet pierced cleanly through the knight's remaining functional shoulder beneath exploding blood and fractured armor while the knight screamed and rolled across the dirt trying desperately to create distance.
The lead knight's breathing turned uneven beneath his damaged helmet while wind moved torch smoke sideways across the battlefield around them.
"You…" His grip tightened visibly around the sword while blood continued dripping steadily across the cracked roadway nearby. "You could have killed us already."
Nocthyrael stood several meters away while Eclipse and Halo rotated lightly around her trigger fingers beneath circulating blood aura and moving wind.
"Yes."
The honesty unsettled them more than arrogance would have.
The lead knight rushed her desperately afterward while the remaining functional knight attempted circling toward her flank beneath shifting gravel and uneven breathing.
Nocthyrael's body vanished again.
Wraith Step folded her into the shadows beneath moving torchlight before she emerged directly behind the lead knight.
Eclipse pressed lightly against the rear of his helmet.
Halo simultaneously rested against the remaining priest's chest after Spectre Vein carried her through another seamless relocation before anyone properly tracked the movement path.
Neither pistol fired.
Cold wind continued moving through the borderlands while drifting dust rolled steadily around broken shields, scattered weapons, blood stains, and collapsing holy formations beneath the darkened sky.
The lead knight froze completely.
The priest froze as well.
Nocthyrael lowered the pistols afterward while blood aura continued circulating around her body beneath the moving night air.
Her body shifted backward through Spectre Vein before reappearing calmly beside Noctis several meters away while the patrol stared silently toward her through the continuing wind and drifting dust crossing the battlefield.
Noctis looked toward her afterward while warmth and pride remained visible within his expression beneath the darkness.
"You finally stopped overthinking."
Nocthyrael holstered Eclipse and Halo slowly while loose strands of black hair shifted across her shoulder through the continuing wind.
"It just started happening naturally." She stepped beside him again while the Eye of Veinheart pulsed softly beneath the armor against her chest. "The movements connected before I consciously thought about them."
Noctis chuckled quietly while drifting dust curled around both of them beneath the night sky overhead.
"That means the instincts are settling properly."
The patrol remained frozen farther down the roadway while holy lantern light flickered weakly across damaged armor and blood-covered equipment. One priest struggled to help the collapsed knight stand while another pressed shaking hands against the blood pouring steadily from his ruined wrist beneath the continuing wind crossing the battlefield.
Nocthyrael looked back toward them afterward.
Then she lifted Eclipse slightly.
Every remaining patrol member immediately stiffened beneath renewed fear while dust continued drifting across the road between both sides.
"You should leave."
None argued.
The priests immediately helped the injured backward while the remaining knights gathered damaged shields and fallen weapons through visibly shaking movements. Blood continued dripping steadily across the roadway while holy pressure destabilized around the retreating patrol.
Within moments the Church patrol disappeared completely into the darkness beyond the northern bend while torchlight gradually faded between the ruined barricades farther ahead.
Only after their holy signatures vanished entirely did Nocthyrael relax fully beside Noctis again.
The borderlands remained continuously alive around both of them while wind crossed through the grasslands, distant creatures moved through the hills beyond the abandoned frontier roads, and drifting dust continued rolling steadily beneath the growing night sky overhead.
Noctis glanced toward her afterward while a proud smile remained visible along his face.
"You enjoyed that far too much."
Nocthyrael laughed softly while looping her arm naturally around his again and leaning lightly against his shoulder beneath the cooling night wind.
"I think your memories are corrupting me."
Noctis smiled while both resumed walking together through the darkened borderlands beneath the continuing airflow, drifting dust, distant wilderness sounds, and broken military road stretching steadily toward the ravine hidden farther ahead beneath the night sky.