The assassin steadied himself, shadow form settling back into stability. He studied her with that unreadable focus.
"Interesting," he said, that distorted voice carrying genuine intrigue now.
"The seal is weakening. Faster than expected." A pause, as though he were reconsidering everything.
"This changes the situation considerably."
He lowered his blade.
Stepped back.
Not retreating. Reassessing.
"My contract was straightforward. Keep Valemont away from you. Prevent... complications." The featureless hood turned toward Lucian. "Clearly, that's no longer feasible."
Lucian managed through gritted teeth, still clutching his broken ribs. His mind was already analyzing despite the pain. "Then what, you're going to kill us both?"
"I'm going to report this development to my employer. They will decide how to proceed." The assassin's attention shifted back to Seraphina, and something in his stance suggested warning.
"But before I leave, a word of advice, Ashenblade. Whatever you felt just now—that power? It will get you killed if you're not careful. There are forces in this world that hunt awakening Ashenblades specifically."
"I don't need advice from hired killers," Seraphina spat, her hand tightening on her sword despite the exhaustion clearly weighing on her.
"No. You need someone who understands what you're becoming."
His head turned toward Lucian.
"Before it consumes you—stay away from Valemont. He's far too weak to survive what's coming."
"Wait—" Lucian started, trying to push himself up.
He looked at them both for a long moment.
Then he simply turned — and took one step backward into the shadow of the archway.
And was gone.
Gone, the way a flame goes out. Like the darkness had simply decided to keep him.
Lucian stayed on his knees, one hand clutching his ribs, eyes locked on the empty archway where the assassin had disappeared.
Every breath was agony. He tried to shift his weight.
"Hss—fuck..." He clutched his side, gritting his teeth. Definitely broken this time. Maybe two ribs.
Seraphina stood a few feet away, her sword still drawn. Blood seeped through her uniform from the gash on her shoulder.
But she wasn't looking at that.
She was staring at him.
And her expression—
Oh no.
"Last night," she said quietly.
Her voice was entirely too calm. The kind of suffocating calm that came right before a catastrophic explosion.
"Seraphina—"
Her eyes found him with blazing fury.
"LAST NIGHT…
"Y-you already fought him last night. You knew this psycho was hunting you... and you didn't say a DAMN word to me?!"
Lucian tried to stand. Failed.
"I was going to—"
"When?!" she exploded. "After he killed you?! He said he broke you like a twig! You were half-dead, and you just... you just smiled at me this morning and HID it?!"
"I didn't want you involved—"
"I'M ALREADY INVOLVED!" She slashed her sword through the air in pure frustration before aggressively sheathing it, as if afraid she might actually hit him. "I defended you publicly! I put a target on my own back! I just fought for you! And you thought keeping secrets was the right call?!"
"Sera, I'm sorry."
"DON'T."
She cut herself off. Turned away. The courtyard went dead quiet. Just for a second. And somehow, that sudden silence was infinitely worse than the shouting.
"I thought we were partners." her voice dropping to a low, hollow whisper. "Forget it."
She started walking.
"Seraphina."
She stopped. Didn't turn around.
"If it didn't matter to you, you'd already be gone."
Silence. Heavy and suffocating.
Then she spun back, the rage returning in full force to her golden eyes—though they looked suspiciously glossy.
"You don't get to do that," she snapped. "You don't get to say something like that and just—" She gestured sharply. "I'm angry at YOU. Stop making it complicated."
"I'm not making it anything."
She took a shaky breath, her gaze dropping to the ground as her anger finally gave way to exhaustion.
"You ARE. I just— you could have told me. That's all. You could have just told me."
She looked away again. Done talking apparently.
Lucian let out a slow, painful breath, a faint, knowing smile touching his lips despite the agony.
"So you do care."
She spun back.
"Well IF I DIDN'T, WHY THE HELL WOULD I BE—"
She stopped. realizing.
A fierce blush swept across her face, turning the tips of her ears bright red.
"I—" She looked away sharply. "That's not— I didn't mean— I don't care about YOU specifically. It's just a strategy. If you die, my reputation takes the hit. That's all."
Lucian didn't say a word. He just let out a soft, pained exhale, that faint, infuriatingly knowing smile never leaving his lips.
Aww looked at her.
"It just IS! Stop trying to make this about—it's not—I was just doing what anyone would—"
"No." He finally managed to get to his feet. Swayed.
"You did what you would do. Because that's who you are."
She didn't have an answer for that.
She stood there, sword still in hand, blood on her shoulder, looking lost.
[AFFECTION INCREASED] Seraphina Ashenblade: 65 → 70
Trigger: Confrontation reveals depth of care. She's more hurt by secrets than the injury.
"Alright, let's move," Lucian said, breaking the silence. "Before someone finds us here."
Seraphina looked at the unconscious boy near the edge of the courtyard.
"What about him?"
"Leave him. He'll wake up eventually. With a lot of questions."
"And Elena?"
"Already ran. Probably halfway back to her dorm by now."
Seraphina sheathed her sword. Finally,
"Can you walk?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Not really."