Julius watched Luca, waiting for him to falter.
He expected fear or at least hesitation because he still held the village hostage. If everything truly broke apart, he could simply sacrifice them all.
He was certain Luca understood that, at least to some extent. It was his trump card, his final leverage.
The Hero would have to back down.
But then he saw Luca's face...and Julius's confidence shattered.
What he had been expecting wasn't there at all.
Luca didn't look scared, frightened, or even the least bit nervous.
Instead, he was just standing there, calmly watching him with that same devious smile he had worn all along.
It was the kind of smile of someone who already knew how the game would end.
Luca then chuckled, the sound warm and almost...amused.
