Titania's first evening as a D-Rank adventurer began with a celebration.
It ended with someone trying to kill her over a piece of roasted meat.
At the time, Titania did not yet know this.
She sat beside the campfire beneath the turning rings of Moonveil, holding her newly transformed guild plate between both hands.
The engraved D shimmered beneath the firelight.
She kept looking at it.
Turning it over.
Checking the emblem.
Then looking again to ensure it had not somehow changed back.
Sin watched her from across the fire.
[It's still D-Rank.]
Titania immediately lowered the plate.
[I know.]
[You've checked seventeen times.]
[I have not.]
[Eighteen.]
Titania tucked the plate beneath her mantle.
[Stop watching me.]
[I'm not.]
[You counted.]
[I heard the metal squeak.]
Titania glanced down at the plate.
It had not squeaked once.
She narrowed her eyes.
[You're making that up.]
Sin took another bite of the blackened meat in his hand.
[Maybe.]
Venus sat beside him, carefully reviewing the damaged assessment crystal. Its surface had cracked during the Moonveil Archivist's attack, but the recorded information remained intact.
Professor Tolan and the rescued scholars rested around a second fire nearby. Their voices were low, relieved, and exhausted. Several members of the expedition had already fallen asleep.
Above them, the colossal stone rings rotated silently against the night sky.
They moved backward now.
None of the scholars had noticed yet.
Sin had.
Venus had too.
Neither mentioned it.
Titania noticed that they were not mentioning it.
That made her determined to mention it repeatedly.
She pointed upward.
[The rings changed direction.]
Sin examined his meat.
[Did they?]
[Yes.]
[Maybe they forgot where they were going.]
Titania stared at him.
[Ancient magical structures do not become lost.]
Sin glanced toward the forest.
[Everything gets lost eventually.]
The humor in his voice was still there.
But thinner.
Venus folded the assessment report.
[We will discuss the ruins after returning to Rize.]
Titania frowned.
[Why not now?]
[Because the expedition team requires rest.]
[And because you two are hiding something.]
Sin pointed his half-eaten meat toward Venus.
[She hides things.]
Venus looked at him.
[You refused to explain your magic.]
[That isn't hiding. That's privacy.]
[You once hid a cursed crown beneath your bed.]
[It matched the room.]
Titania leaned forward.
[What cursed crown?]
Venus ignored her.
Sin looked away.
Titania's eyes narrowed.
[What cursed crown?]
Professor Tolan approached before either could answer.
He carried a bottle of wine beneath one arm and three small wooden cups in his hands.
[Adventurers,] he said warmly. [My team owes you our lives.]
Titania sat straighter.
[You don't owe us anything. It was our mission.]
[Nonsense. A contract may explain why someone enters danger, but it does not diminish the courage required to remain there.]
He handed one cup to Venus.
Another to Sin.
Then hesitated before looking at Titania.
[You are sixteen, correct?]
Titania nodded.
Professor Tolan replaced the third cup with a bottle of fruit juice from the supply crate.
Titania accepted it with quiet disappointment.
Sin looked at his wine.
Then at Titania's juice.
[Trade?]
[No.]
[You don't know what it tastes like.]
[I know what theft tastes like.]
[Educational exchange.]
Venus took Sin's cup and handed it to Titania.
Titania blinked.
Venus replaced it with the fruit juice.
Sin stared at the bottle now resting in his hand.
[This is tyranny.]
[You become more annoying after drinking.]
[Impossible.]
[You tried to challenge the moon.]
Titania looked between them.
[He did what?]
Sin opened the juice.
[It started it.]
Professor Tolan laughed.
Even Venus smiled faintly.
Titania looked around the camp.
She had completed her second quest.
She had saved lives.
She had earned a promotion.
For the first time since escaping her chains, she felt as though she had accomplished something that belonged entirely to her.
She lifted the cup.
Professor Tolan raised his own.
[To Titania Astro, D-Rank adventurer.]
The scholars around the second campfire echoed the toast.
Titania's face warmed.
Sin raised his juice.
[To not dying.]
Venus glanced at him.
[Must you ruin everything?]
[That's an important achievement.]
Titania smiled despite herself.
She touched her cup against theirs.
[To not dying.]
Sin nodded approvingly.
[She understands.]
They drank.
The celebration remained peaceful for another three minutes.
Then the forest went silent.
Sin's ears turned toward the western ridge.
Venus lowered her cup.
Titania noticed the change immediately.
The insects had stopped.
The night birds had vanished.
Even the wind moving through the silver grass seemed to hold its breath.
Professor Tolan looked around.
[What is it?]
Sin stood.
The laziness disappeared from his posture.
[Someone's coming.]
Titania reached for the Gemini Staff.
[Monster?]
Venus's hand rested against the Helios Fusion Blade.
[No.]
A scent entered the clearing.
Roses.
Rain.
And blood.
The flames bent toward the forest.
Darkness gathered between the trees.
Not ordinary shadow.
This darkness moved with purpose, slipping across the ground in long ribbons. It wound around stones and roots, creeping closer to the camp without producing a single sound.
The scholars rose in alarm.
Mira raised an appraisal crystal.
Its surface immediately cracked.
She stared at it.
[That has never happened before.]
A figure stepped from the trees.
She was tall and graceful, dressed in black noble clothing beneath a dark traveling coat. Frilled white fabric covered her chest, held by a delicate chain of silver beads. Long silver-white hair spilled down her back, luminous beneath the moon.
Her ears were slightly pointed.
Her skin was pale enough to seem carved from moonlight.
But her eyes were red.
Not simply crimson.
They glowed like fresh blood beneath the dark.
A faint red mist moved around her body.
The shadows followed her footsteps.
Titania's guild plate warmed violently against her chest.
A warning appeared.
Appraisal Failed
Target level exceeds current authorization
Race identified: Vampire
Threat evaluation unavailable
Titania tightened her grip on her staff.
The woman's gaze swept across the camp.
Over the scholars.
Over Venus.
Over Titania.
Then it found Sin.
Everything changed.
The oppressive darkness vanished.
The red mist dispersed.
The vampire's cold, unreadable expression shattered into pure joy.
[Lord Sin!]
Sin's ears flattened.
Venus closed her eyes.
Titania looked between them.
[Lord?]
The vampire disappeared.
Titania saw nothing.
One moment, she stood near the trees.
The next, she had crossed the clearing and thrown herself directly at Sin.
He barely had time to raise his arms before she wrapped herself around him.
[My lord! My savior! My eternal moon in this filthy, unworthy world!]
Sin staggered backward.
[Elena.]
The vampire buried her face against his chest.
[I have returned!]
[Yes. I noticed.]
[I survived every dreadful second apart by remembering the sacred warmth of your presence!]
Sin looked toward Venus.
Venus took a calm sip of wine.
She made no attempt to help him.
Elena pulled back just enough to cup Sin's face between both hands.
Her crimson eyes shimmered.
[Did you miss me?]
Sin thought carefully.
Titania had already learned that this was usually where disaster began.
[A reasonable amount.]
Elena's lips parted.
Her entire face lit up.
[A reasonable amount…]
She whispered the words as though Sin had recited a marriage vow.
Then she pressed one hand against her heart.
[He missed me.]
Sin looked increasingly concerned.
[Elena.]
[He missed me!]
The vampire turned toward the moon.
[Do you hear that, ancient night? Your pale light means nothing! Lord Sin missed me!]
Professor Tolan slowly moved closer to his scholars.
Arlen whispered to Mira.
[Is she an Outcast?]
Mira watched Elena cling to Sin.
[I'm afraid to ask.]
Titania looked at Venus.
[Who is she?]
Venus took another drink.
[Elena Drac.]
Titania's eyes widened.
She knew that name.
The fallen vampire princess.
A-Rank assassin.
The second strongest member of the Outcast Guild.
Stories surrounding Elena Drac varied wildly. Some claimed she had slaughtered an entire royal court in one night. Others said she could walk through shadows, command blood, and tear armored knights apart before their weapons left their sheaths.
None of the stories mentioned this.
Elena had now lowered herself to one knee before Sin.
She took his hand carefully between both of hers.
[My lord, forgive my delayed return. The insects responsible for the northern trafficking network scattered when they learned I was coming.]
Titania went still.
[Trafficking network?]
Elena did not acknowledge her.
[I was forced to hunt them across four territories. Every second spent away from you was torture, but I knew your divine will demanded their suffering.]
Sin looked down at her.
[I told you to arrest the leaders.]
Elena smiled sweetly.
[I did.]
[Alive?]
Her smile remained.
Sin's eyes narrowed.
Elena tilted her head.
[Define alive.]
Venus lowered her cup.
[Breathing.]
[Some were.]
Sin sighed.
Elena immediately looked devastated.
[Have I disappointed you?]
[You ignored the mission instructions.]
Her eyes widened in horror.
Red tears gathered at their edges.
[My lord…]
Sin stared.
Titania stared.
Elena bowed until her forehead almost touched the ground.
[Punish me.]
Titania choked on her drink.
Professor Tolan coughed into his sleeve.
Sin rubbed his face.
[Stand up.]
Elena immediately rose.
[As you command.]
[And stop calling me "my lord."]
[Of course, Lord Sin.]
Sin looked toward Venus again.
Venus smiled into her cup.
[You encouraged this.]
[I rescued her.]
[You told a traumatized vampire princess that she could follow you forever.]
Sin paused.
Titania slowly turned toward him.
[You said what?]
[Context matters.]
Elena clasped both hands beneath her chin.
[It was the most beautiful moment of my existence.]
Sin looked tired.
[You were bleeding out.]
[And then I saw god.]
Titania's eyebrows rose.
Sin pointed at himself.
[Not god.]
Elena's smile became deeply affectionate.
[So humble.]
[Elena.]
[Yes, my divine sovereign?]
[No.]
She nodded.
[Your will is absolute.]
Titania looked at Venus.
[Is she serious?]
Venus swirled the wine inside her cup.
[Completely.]
[All the time?]
[This is restrained.]
Titania looked back.
Elena was now inspecting Sin from head to toe, checking for injuries with growing panic.
[Your cloak is torn.]
[It was already torn.]
[Your hair is disordered.]
[It does that.]
[There is ash on your cheek.]
Sin touched his face.
[Food.]
Elena turned toward the fire.
Her eyes found the burned meat.
Then sharpened.
[Who served Lord Sin this insult?]
Sin raised his hand.
Elena looked at him.
[You prepared it yourself?]
[Yes.]
Her expression softened.
[Then it is perfect.]
Titania's mouth opened.
Venus leaned closer.
[Do not seek logic. You will find only worship.]
Elena took the burned piece of meat from Sin's hand.
She examined the blackened surface as if holding a sacred relic.
[May I preserve this?]
[No.]
[Then may I eat it?]
[Also no.]
[May I hold it while you eat something worthy of you?]
Sin carefully took it back.
[I was eating it.]
Elena looked ashamed.
[Of course. Forgive my arrogance.]
Titania lowered her voice.
[This is terrifying.]
Venus nodded.
[Yes.]
Elena's head turned.
Her crimson eyes landed on Titania.
The warmth disappeared.
No gradual shift.
No warning.
One moment, she was a worshipful devotee.
The next, Titania felt a predator looking through her skin.
The campfire dimmed.
Elena's gaze moved over Titania's new clothing, guild plate, staff, and position beside Sin's abandoned seat.
She noticed the D-Rank emblem.
Then the faint damp mark on Titania's shoulder where Sin had slept during the carriage ride.
Her eyes narrowed.
[Who is she?]
Titania straightened.
[Titania Astro.]
Elena continued staring.
Titania felt as though the vampire had not actually asked for her name.
Sin answered.
[New recruit.]
Elena's eyes moved toward him.
[You recruited her?]
[Yes.]
[Personally?]
[Found her in a forest.]
Titania's eyebrow twitched.
[I was not lying beneath a bush.]
Elena looked back at her.
[He found you alone?]
[Yes.]
[Helpless?]
Titania's pride immediately rebelled.
[I was cornered, not helpless.]
[And Lord Sin saved you.]
Titania tightened her grip on the staff.
[He killed the slave traders pursuing me.]
Elena's expression became colder.
[Then you owe him your life.]
Titania did not like her tone.
[I'm aware of what he did.]
[Are you?]
The shadows around Elena's feet deepened.
Sin noticed.
[Elena.]
The darkness vanished instantly.
Elena turned toward him with a gentle smile.
[Yes?]
[Be nice.]
Her expression flickered.
She slowly looked back at Titania.
The smile returned.
It was beautiful.
It had no warmth whatsoever.
[Of course.]
Titania returned the smile.
Hers was far less convincing.
[How kind.]
Venus watched both of them over the rim of her cup.
Sin sat down again.
[Elena, mission report.]
The vampire immediately abandoned Titania and knelt beside him.
She removed a black folder from beneath her coat and offered it with both hands.
[The northern trafficking network has been dismantled. Seventeen captives were rescued and transferred to the sanctuary operated by the Dawn Sisters.]
Sin opened the file.
[Leaders?]
[Five captured.]
[Alive?]
[Technically.]
Sin looked at her.
Elena smiled.
[They can answer questions.]
[Can they speak?]
A pause.
[Four can write.]
Sin closed the folder.
[We'll work on restraint.]
Elena's eyes shone.
[You intend to train me personally?]
[That is not what I said.]
[Even your corrections are gifts.]
Titania could no longer remain silent.
[Do you always speak to him like that?]
Elena slowly turned her head.
[Like what?]
[As though he personally placed the stars in the sky.]
Elena's expression showed genuine confusion.
[He did not?]
Titania stared.
Sin covered his face.
Venus looked toward the Moonveil rings, possibly to hide amusement.
Titania gestured toward Sin.
[He steals food.]
[A king may claim tribute.]
[He sleeps through briefings.]
[His mind walks realms beyond mortal comprehension.]
[He lost a fight against a chair.]
Elena's crimson eyes sharpened.
[The chair cheated.]
Titania looked at Sin.
[Did you tell her that?]
Sin remained behind both hands.
[No.]
Elena placed one hand over her chest.
[Lord Sin could never truly lose. If he appears defeated, it is because victory itself required instruction.]
Titania's mouth fell open.
Venus finally laughed.
It was quiet, but unmistakable.
Titania turned.
[You find this funny?]
Venus composed herself.
[Very.]
Elena's eyes shifted toward Titania's hand.
Titania had unconsciously rested it against Sin's shoulder while gesturing.
The air became freezing.
Not from Venus.
Elena rose.
Slowly.
Titania noticed the direction of her gaze and removed her hand.
Elena smiled.
[You seem comfortable touching him.]
Titania frowned.
[He touches my head constantly.]
Red mist appeared around Elena.
Sin looked up.
[Elena.]
[Yes, my lord?]
[No murder.]
[I have not murdered anyone.]
[You're planning.]
She looked offended.
[I would never plan such a thing in your presence.]
Titania took one step back.
[That wording did not help.]
Elena moved closer.
Titania held her ground.
The vampire stood only slightly taller, but her presence made the difference feel enormous. Her crimson eyes examined Titania's face with quiet hostility.
[How long have you known him?]
[A few days.]
[And you already sit beside him?]
[There were limited seats.]
[He slept upon your shoulder.]
Titania blinked.
[How do you know that?]
Elena's nose moved slightly.
Titania's face fell.
Vampire senses.
[His scent is on your mantle.]
Sin looked toward Venus.
[This is getting strange.]
Venus raised an eyebrow.
[Getting?]
Elena leaned closer to Titania.
[Did you enjoy it?]
Titania's cheeks reddened.
[What kind of question is that?]
[A simple one.]
[He drooled on me.]
Elena's eyes widened.
Titania immediately understood she had made everything worse.
[You received his sacred essence?]
Titania recoiled.
[Do not call it that!]
Elena's expression twisted with envy.
[I have preserved every cup he has ever used, yet you were blessed so carelessly.]
Sin stood.
[You did what?]
Elena froze.
She slowly turned toward him.
[A joke.]
Sin stared.
Elena smiled.
[A normal joke made by ordinary people.]
Venus lowered her cup.
[She has an entire cabinet.]
Sin looked toward her.
[You knew?]
[I wanted to see when you would notice.]
Sin stared at both women.
[I'm surrounded by criminals.]
Titania pointed toward him.
[You lead vigilantes.]
[That is different.]
Elena's attention returned to Titania.
The jealousy remained.
Sharp.
Possessive.
Dangerous.
Titania could almost feel Elena deciding how far away from Sin she needed to be buried.
Then Sin stepped between them.
[She's not a rival.]
Elena looked up at him.
Titania looked up too.
Sin pointed toward Titania.
[She's my little sister.]
The world stopped.
Titania's eyes widened.
Elena went completely still.
Even Venus's amused expression softened slightly.
Sin appeared unaware that he had said anything important.
[So stop trying to scare her.]
Titania's fingers tightened around her mantle.
Little sister.
No one had called her that before.
Not kindly.
Her own older siblings had treated her as an inconvenience, a rival, or a piece on the family's board. The word had never carried warmth.
From Sin, it sounded simple.
Natural.
As though the decision had already been made.
As though she belonged.
Titania turned her face away before anyone could see her expression.
Elena stared at her.
The murderous pressure vanished.
[Little sister?]
Sin nodded.
[Yes.]
Elena's eyes filled with sudden understanding.
Then delight.
Titania made the mistake of looking back.
Elena seized both of her hands.
Titania nearly struck her with the staff.
[What are you doing?]
[You are Lord Sin's little sister.]
[Apparently.]
Elena's grip tightened.
[Then you are sacred.]
Titania blinked.
[What?]
[His family is my family. His treasured little sister must be protected, cherished, fed, clothed, guarded, and preserved from all suffering.]
Titania looked toward Venus.
[Help.]
Venus shook her head.
[You challenged her theology. Accept the consequences.]
Elena pulled Titania into an embrace.
Titania's arms remained trapped at her sides.
[My dear little sister.]
[I met you three minutes ago.]
[Those were three precious minutes wasted in misunderstanding.]
[You were considering killing me.]
Elena drew back.
[Only slightly.]
[That is not reassuring.]
[I would never harm Lord Sin's sister.]
Sin relaxed.
Elena continued.
[Unless you betray him.]
Sin's ears flattened again.
Titania stared.
Elena smiled sweetly.
[But you would never do that.]
[Correct,] Titania answered quickly.
[Wonderful.]
Elena hugged her again.
Titania looked over Elena's shoulder at Sin.
[You caused this.]
Sin pointed at himself.
[I helped.]
[Undo it.]
[No idea how.]
Venus stood and collected the empty cups.
[There is no undoing Elena.]
Elena released Titania only to begin inspecting her.
She checked Titania's face, arms, hands, and damaged mantle.
[You are injured.]
[Minor burns.]
Elena's expression darkened.
[Who harmed you?]
[An ancient construct.]
[Where is it?]
[Destroyed.]
[Who destroyed it?]
Titania glanced at Sin.
Elena's expression became radiant.
[Of course.]
Titania pulled her arm free.
[I fought it first.]
Elena looked at her.
Titania raised her chin.
[I disabled its D-Rank state and protected one of the missing scholars.]
Elena examined her more carefully.
The jealousy was gone now.
In its place came appraisal.
Not the cold judgment of a rival.
The intense scrutiny of someone determining whether Titania was worthy of standing near her god.
[You protected a stranger despite being injured?]
Titania nodded.
[It was my mission.]
Elena looked toward Sin.
[She resembles you.]
Sin scratched his cheek.
[She has better hair.]
Titania's face warmed.
Elena touched Titania's black hair.
[It is beautiful.]
Titania stepped away.
[People in this guild touch without permission far too often.]
Elena immediately withdrew her hand.
[Forgive me.]
The apology was instant.
Sincere.
Titania had not expected that.
Elena lowered her head slightly.
[If Lord Sin has accepted you as family, then I will respect your boundaries.]
Titania studied her.
For all her frightening intensity, Elena seemed genuinely concerned about having upset her.
[Thank you.]
Elena smiled.
Then she looked toward Sin.
[May I touch Lord Sin's hair?]
[No,] Sin said.
She looked devastated.
Titania almost laughed.
Almost.
The expedition broke camp before sunrise.
Professor Tolan wanted to return to Rize immediately so the black tablet recovered from the archive could be secured and examined.
The scholars loaded their equipment into the carriages.
Elena followed Sin everywhere.
Everywhere.
When he checked the horses, she stood beside him.
When he walked toward the supply crates, she appeared behind him.
When he disappeared behind a tree for privacy, she attempted to follow.
Sin stopped and turned.
[No.]
Elena froze.
[But the forest is dangerous.]
[Stay.]
She stood perfectly still.
Sin disappeared behind the trees.
Elena watched the spot where he had vanished with the intensity of a guard stationed outside a royal vault.
Titania approached Venus.
[Has she always been like this?]
Venus fastened a bag to the carriage.
[No.]
Titania looked surprised.
Venus glanced toward Elena.
[She used to be worse.]
Titania's face fell.
[How?]
[She tried to eliminate everyone who spoke disrespectfully about him.]
Elena's voice carried from across the camp.
[I heard that.]
Venus did not turn.
[I intended you to.]
Titania lowered her voice.
[Why is she so devoted to him?]
Venus paused.
The humor left her expression.
[Sin found Elena in the ruins of her kingdom.]
Titania listened.
[Her family had used Blood Magic to control her since childhood. They turned her hunger into a weapon, pointed her at enemies, and called it royal duty.]
Titania looked toward Elena.
The vampire stood beneath the morning darkness, pale and composed, eyes fixed on the trees where Sin had disappeared.
[When she finally lost control, the court declared her a monster. They imprisoned her beneath the palace and planned to harvest her blood.]
Titania's stomach twisted.
Venus continued quietly.
[Sin destroyed the prison. He killed the people holding her chains and carried her out himself.]
Titania remembered the forest.
The broken collar falling from her own neck.
[He saved her.]
[Yes.]
[And told her she could follow him forever.]
Venus nodded.
[Sin intended it to mean she would always have a home.]
Titania looked toward the trees.
[Elena interpreted it differently.]
[Very.]
Sin returned.
Elena immediately appeared beside him.
She offered him a folded cloth for his hands.
He stared at it.
Then accepted.
Her smile looked as though the sun had personally risen for her.
Titania understood a little better.
Elena did not simply love Sin.
She had built her entire understanding of freedom around him.
To her, he was the first person who had seen a monster and chosen to open the cage rather than tighten its chains.
That kind of devotion could become dangerous.
Perhaps it already had.
But Titania could not call it incomprehensible.
She touched the place where her own slave collar had once rested.
[Does Sin know how she feels?]
Venus's expression became flat.
[Sin believes she is "very loyal."]
Titania slowly turned toward her.
[That's all?]
[He is catastrophically dense.]
Sin's voice came from the carriage.
[I can still hear both of you.]
Venus raised her voice.
[Good.]
Elena climbed into the carriage first and cleaned Sin's seat with a handkerchief.
Titania watched.
[This trip is going to be long.]
Venus placed one hand on her shoulder.
[You have no idea.]
The return journey began quietly.
Professor Tolan and the scholars occupied the first carriage.
The four Outcasts rode in the second.
Venus sat near the front, reading the recovered expedition notes.
Titania sat opposite her.
Sin took the seat beside Titania.
Elena entered last.
She stopped.
Her crimson eyes moved from Sin to Titania.
Then to the narrow amount of space remaining beside Venus.
Titania saw the calculation.
[No.]
Elena looked at her.
[No?]
[You are not going to murder me over the seating arrangement.]
Elena placed one hand against her chest.
[I would never.]
Titania pointed toward the shadows gathering beneath the benches.
[Those disagree.]
The shadows vanished.
Elena smiled.
[An involuntary response.]
Sin moved toward the center.
[There. Space.]
Elena sat beside him so quickly that the carriage rocked.
She folded her hands neatly in her lap.
Her shoulder pressed against his.
Her expression was peaceful.
Sin looked toward the window.
Titania looked at Venus.
Venus continued reading.
The carriage moved.
For several minutes, no one spoke.
Then Sin's head began to lower.
Titania recognized the signs.
[Don't.]
His eyes closed.
His body tilted toward her.
Elena caught his head before it reached Titania's shoulder.
She carefully guided it onto her own.
A look of absolute bliss spread across her face.
Titania watched in fascination.
Elena did not breathe.
Did not blink.
Did not move.
She sat like a sacred statue entrusted with the world's most precious relic.
Sin slept peacefully.
Titania leaned toward Venus.
[Is she going to remain like that for six hours?]
Elena whispered without moving her lips.
[Until the end of time.]
Titania leaned back.
[She is terrifying.]
Venus turned another page.
[You grow accustomed to it.]
The carriage struck a bump.
Sin's head shifted slightly.
Elena caught it with both hands, shielding him from the movement.
Her eyes turned toward the driver's compartment.
Murderous intent filled the carriage.
Titania raised both hands.
[The road did it.]
Elena's gaze remained fixed forward.
[Then the road will answer.]
Sin opened one eye.
[Don't kill the road.]
Elena immediately relaxed.
[As you command.]
He closed his eye again.
Titania stared.
[How does someone kill a road?]
Venus did not look up.
[Elena would find a way.]
Two hours into the journey, the carriage entered a narrow woodland pass.
The road curved between steep rocky slopes covered in red-leafed trees. Morning light filtered through the branches, painting the path in shifting gold and crimson.
Sin remained asleep.
Elena remained motionless beneath him.
Titania studied the notes she had taken about incantationless magic.
Her page currently read:
SIN'S MAGIC
No chant.
No circles.
No visible formula.
Impossible.
Beneath that, she had written:
He refuses to explain anything because he is annoying.
Venus glanced over.
[Accurate.]
Titania closed the notebook.
[Can you use magic without incantations?]
[Some spells.]
[How?]
[Practice, control, and reducing a spell's formula until the mind can perform it automatically.]
Titania looked toward Sin.
[Is that what he does?]
Venus's gaze settled on him.
[No.]
[Then what does he do?]
[Something else.]
Titania sighed.
[Everyone keeps saying that.]
Elena spoke softly.
[Lord Sin does not cast magic.]
Titania turned.
Elena's eyes remained forward.
[Then what did I see?]
[The world recognizes his will.]
Titania frowned.
[That sounds like worship, not theory.]
Elena finally looked at her.
[The two are not mutually exclusive.]
Before Titania could answer, Sin's ears rose.
His eyes opened.
Elena immediately brightened.
[Did you rest well?]
Sin sat upright.
[Quiet.]
The carriage stopped.
Venus closed the report.
Titania reached for the Gemini Staff.
Outside, the horses shifted nervously.
The driver called back.
[There's someone in the road.]
Sin opened the carriage door.
A man stood ahead.
He wore a gray cloak and a smooth white mask.
No guild plate.
No weapon.
Behind the trees, figures moved.
Titania counted at least twelve.
Bandits?
No.
Their positioning was too disciplined.
The masked man raised one hand.
[Hand over the tablet recovered from Moonveil.]
The black artifact rested inside a sealed case beneath Venus's feet.
Professor Tolan's carriage had already stopped ahead.
Sin stepped down.
Venus followed.
Titania moved behind them.
Elena remained seated for one second longer.
She carefully adjusted the part of her coat Sin had slept against.
Then she exited.
Her expression was calm.
Too calm.
The masked man continued.
[We have no interest in the scholars or ordinary adventurers. Surrender the artifact, and you may leave.]
Sin looked around.
[Twelve.]
Venus corrected him.
[Fourteen.]
Elena's nose moved slightly.
[Seventeen.]
Titania tightened her hands around the staff.
She could only see twelve.
Sin yawned.
[That's annoying.]
The masked man's gaze moved across their guild plates.
Two A-Ranks.
One D-Rank.
Elena wore no visible plate.
His posture stiffened slightly.
[We were informed the expedition hired only three adventurers.]
Sin pointed toward Elena.
[Surprise.]
Elena's eyes glowed.
The hidden attackers moved.
Titania raised her staff.
Sin lifted one hand.
[Evaluation.]
Titania looked at him.
[Again?]
[You're D-Rank now.]
Seventeen attackers emerged from the forest.
Their clothing was dark and uniform, marked by a silver line splitting a black circle.
The same symbol from Moonveil.
The same mark engraved on the recovered tablet.
Titania's eyes widened.
Venus drew the Helios Fusion Blade only a few inches from its sheath.
Elena took one step forward.
Sin caught the back of her collar.
She stopped instantly.
[My lord?]
[Let Titania handle what she can.]
Elena looked toward the seventeen armed attackers.
Then at Titania.
Her eyes narrowed.
[This is too dangerous for your little sister.]
Titania stared.
[You were trying to kill me last night.]
[Before I understood your sacred position.]
[Stop calling me sacred.]
Elena reached toward her.
Titania stepped back.
The vampire carefully straightened Titania's mantle.
[Do not fear, little sister. If one drop of your blood touches the ground, I will remove every living thing from this forest.]
Everyone went silent.
Even the attackers seemed concerned.
Titania slowly looked toward Sin.
[Can she not evaluate me?]
[Good idea.]
Venus shook her head.
[Terrible idea.]
The masked leader raised his weapon.
[Attack!]
Titania stepped forward.
Mana gathered around the Gemini Staff.
Water formed in the air.
Stone shifted beneath the road.
Shadows curled around her boots.
She looked back once.
Sin stood with his hands in his pockets.
Venus watched with her usual controlled focus.
Elena stared at Titania's enemies as though memorizing the order in which she would dismember them.
Titania faced forward again.
Her second life within the Outcast Guild had become stranger by the hour.
She now possessed a new rank.
A terrible teacher.
A manipulative vice captain.
And a vampire older sister who had nearly declared war against a road.
Titania lifted her staff.
[Try not to murder anyone unless I need help.]
Elena smiled.
[No promises.]
The first attacker charged.
Titania cast her spell.
And behind her, Elena Drac watched every movement with crimson eyes.
Not merely evaluating Titania's strength.
Determining whether the girl Sin called his little sister was worthy of becoming part of the world she worshipped.
For Titania, it was another battle.
For Elena, it was a holy examination.
And for the seventeen masked attackers standing in their way…
It was the worst possible morning to threaten Sin's family.