Lian walked past Lena the moment the blood splatters and glass shards vanished into nothingness.
A sharp chill raced down Lena's spine, leaving her shaking as she caught sight of the dark silhouette beside Lian. What on earth is that creature?
Outer turned its head toward her, pulling back its lips to reveal a row of sharp, gleaming white teeth in a predatory grin. Lena's legs gave way, unable to support her weight; she collapsed onto the floor, trembling in shock. Master Lian... Just who are you?
Lian was narrowing the gap between him and Rhea.
Rhea forced a fragile smile, her voice wavering. "Master Lian... you're finally awake..."
Lian stopped. His gaze shifted, locking onto the twins. Ashil and Vashil bowed their heads, their bodies shivering as cold sweat drenched their skin.
He then turned his eyes toward Nox, who sat slumped against the wall.
Rhea's chest heaved with shallow breaths.
"Master Lian... this is..."
Lian stepped forward until he was level with Rhea. Leaning in, he whispered into her ear, "Do you want me to erase them, Rhea?"
Rhea's eyes widened. Beads of sweat formed at her temples.
"Master Lian... please... I beg of you, stay calm..."
Lian walked past her without a word.
Rhea's knees buckled, and she fell into a stiff kneeling position on the floor as the void she saw within him haunted her every sense. Master Lian's eyes...
As Lian approached Ashil and Ron, Ashil—his body trembling like a leaf—immediately prostrated himself. "P-Please forgive m-me... Master Le-Leuliang..."
Lian ignored him, his attention shifting to Ron.
Ron remained silent, gasping for air, his face a grim mask of blood and sweat. Lian, what are you planning to do?
As Lian passed them, the bloodstains on their clothes vanished into thin air.
The air in the hallway began to grow heavy, thick with an oppressive pressure.
Lian's gaze fell upon Vashil. Without a word, Vashil bowed, his face turning white as cold sweat dripped onto the floor.
Lian approached Nox and halted, casting a long shadow over his broken form. "Does it hurt?"
Outer let out a low, chilling chuckle. In the silence, the creature's voice sounded louder than it should.
Nox didn't respond; he simply turned his bruised and battered face away.
Lian's eyes went vacant. "Who?"
Nox clenched his trembling fists. "None of your business..."
In that heartbeat, the entire left wing of the Edelweiss Estate—from the walls to the ceiling—vanished. There was no sound, no debris, no dust. It was gone without a trace.
Everyone gasped, looking up in shock at the open sky. The air felt even more suffocating now. The scorching midday sun beat down on them.
Lena tried to move, but her body refused to obey. Her chest felt tight. "Is this... Master Lian's power?" she whispered.
Nox's eyes widened as he looked up at Lian. "What did you just do?"
Lian turned around, ignoring him. Outer followed by his side.
"Hey!" Nox's voice broke.
As Lian passed Ashil, the man remained in a deep bow. "P-please forgive us, Master Le-Leuliang."
Lian didn't care. He walked past Rhea and Lena without a single glance. But then, he stopped.
"Outer..."
Outer grinned. His form dissolved into a thick, black mist that swirled around Ashil and Vashil. Lena gasped, her mouth hanging open. Rhea could only close her eyes, unable to watch.
Nox tried to stand, but his body failed him. Damn it.
Ron bit his lip until it bled. With the last of his strength, he screamed, "ENOUGH!"
Lian didn't listen.
"Outer, erase their power."
In an instant, Ashil and Vashil screamed in agony. "Aaarghhh!"
Ashil rolled on the floor, clutching his head. "Ma-Master... mercy... please!"
"P-please... s-stop it..." Vashil's body convulsed as he clutched his chest, his breath coming in short, ragged bursts.
"Lian!" Nox shouted, his voice failing.
Ron knelt, clenching his fists.
Rhea's cheeks were wet with tears as she heard their cries. Lena covered her ears, shaking her head in a desperate attempt to block out the sound.
Then, the agonizing screams vanished.
Outer returned to his original form. Lian walked away without another word, Outer trailing behind him, leaving Ashil and Vashil collapsed on the floor.
Lena covered her mouth, stifling a sob. Rhea struggled to her feet and walked toward Ashil with unsteady steps.
"How did… it come to this?"
With a ragged breath, Ron hauled himself up, his balance teetering on a knife's edge. Nox tried to do the same but failed, his face hitting the floor once more.
Ron crawled toward him. "Nox, that's enough..."
Nox panted heavily, his voice strained. "Lian... he went too far..."
Ron helped Nox into a sitting position.
"Ron..." Nox croaked, looking up at him.
Ron gave a faint, tired smile.
Tears finally spilled from Nox's eyes, and he covered his face with his hands. "I'm sorry..."
Ron could only rub his brother's back in a silent attempt to comfort him.
The sun continued to sting their skin, and a hot wind brushed against their faces.
Rhea turned and went to Lena, pulling the crying girl into an embrace.
"Lena..."
"Lady Rhea..." Lena's cries finally erupted as she clung to Rhea. "Lady Rhea... Uwaaaa..."
"It's alright... it's over now." Rhea stroked Lena's hair gently.
Ron and Nox could only listen to Lena's fading cries, feeling utterly helpless.
The sun grew even harsher as the sounds of weeping grew quiet.
Rhea pulled back, wiping the tears from Lena's cheeks.
"Lena... can you stand?"
Lena nodded.
Rhea rose to her feet, followed by Lena, and looked out over the ruins of her home.
"Truly... nothing is left, yet Master Lian really holds back."
"Lady Rhea..."
Rhea smiled. "Lena, get the ambulance."
"Understood, Lady Rhea! Right away!"
As Lena made the call, Rhea walked over to Nox and Ron.
She knelt before them, her peridot eyes beginning to glow with a soft light. Seeing Nox's bruised face and the wounds on Ron's skin made her grip her skirt.
Nox and Ron lowered their heads.
"Forgive us..." Ron whispered.
Rhea sighed and offered a thin smile. "Ron... Sir Nox... this might hurt a little, but please bear with it."
They looked at each other and nodded.
"Ugh..." Nox groaned.
Ron clenched his fists against the sudden sting of healing.
The light in Rhea's eyes faded. "There... the cracked bones are mended."
"Rhea..." Ron said softly.
"Yes?"
"I—"
Nox cut him off. "It was my fault."
Ron turned to him. "Nox..."
"It doesn't matter anymore," Rhea intervened.
The two men fell silent.
Rhea stood up. "Wait a little longer. The ambulance is coming."
Nox nodded.
Ron wiped his face. "Thank you..."
Rhea left them and returned to Lena.
"Lena, what's the status?"
"It might take a while. I requested two ambulances at once."
"That's fine."
Lena looked over at Nox, Ron, and the twins.
Rhea patted her head. "Calm down. They are still alive."
Lena placed a hand over her heart, a small smile finally forming.
"Thank goodness."
"Lena, can you wait here?"
"Are you going to see Master Lian, Lady Rhea?"
"Yes... you saw it too, didn't you? Master Lian's eyes?"
Lena's smile vanished as she nodded. "Is he... is he going to be okay?"
Rhea sighed. "I'm going to find out."
"I understand. I'll stay here and keep watch."
"I'm counting on you."
Rhea hurried toward where Lian had gone.
Lena walked toward Nox and Ron. I want to know what that black creature was too, she mused.
Tucking her skirt, she sat down in front of the two men.
"Do you need anything, Sir Nox, Sir Ron?"
Nox didn't answer.
Ron shook his head.
Lena fell silent, staring up at the bright blue sky—a stark, cruel contrast to the devastation of the Edelweiss Estate.
"So, when Sir Nox mentioned the abyss while we were shopping, you were referring to Master Lian's power, right?"
Finally, Ron spoke. "You're quite sharp... Lena, aren't you going to ask?"
Nox watched her intensely.
"Ask what?"
"About what happened," Ron continued.
Lena glanced over at Vashil. "It's all quite clear... and they've been punished, haven't they?"
"Lena... is Rhea angry?" Nox asked in a low voice.
"It might have been better if Lady Rhea was the one who punished you."
Nox looked away. "You're right."
Lena stared at them for a long moment.
"Do you know what that black creature beside Master Lian was?"
"Outer," Ron said.
"Outer... what is it?"
"Lian said Outer is a friend... and a part of himself."
"I see..." Lena whispered. "So, at Master Lian's side, there is no one else but himself."
Her words hit the two men like a bolt from the blue.
To be continued...