The next few days passed quietly—almost suspiciously so.
The sun rose warm over the orphanage, children played in the courtyard, and for once, there were no shadows lurking behind corners. No whispers of assassins. No tingling in Raven's instincts.
Just… quiet.
At least on the outside.
Inside hearts, the storm was definitely brewing.
⸻
Lyria's Confusion Grows
Princess Lyria began visiting the orphanage almost every morning.
Every time she said, "I'm only checking on Raven's condition,"
Kara raised an eyebrow so high it nearly left her forehead.
Yet Lyria insisted.
And every single time, her heart beat faster when she saw Raven.
This morning, Raven was practicing hand-to-hand movements, sweat glistening across her shoulders as her muscles flexed with precise control.
Lyria's thoughts immediately dissolved into chaos.
Why is she always like this? Why does she look—why does she—STOP.
Her face warmed instantly.
Kara smirked, arms crossed.
"Oh look, Your Highness is red again. I wonder why…"
Her tone was playful, sharp with amusement.
Lyria nearly choked on air.
"N-No! I'm just… warm. The sun—sun is hot today!"
"It's cloudy," Kara said.
Lyria threw her a death glare.
When they approached, Raven stopped training and glanced at them with her usual unreadable calm.
"You're here early again," she said.
Lyria froze.
Kara answered for her:
"She missed you."
"KA—!" Lyria nearly tackled her.
Kara laughed loudly and whispered, dodging easily.
"Oh, don't deny it! You've been staring at her like a puppy waiting for its owner to return."
"I HAVE NOT!"
Raven blinked.
"…Why are you shouting?"
Lyria hid her face with both hands.
Kara only grinned wider.
Inside, though, Kara felt a tiny sting of jealousy.
Not romantic jealousy , but friendly jealousy —not at all.
But she had grown to like Raven as a friend…
and Lyria hogging her felt unfair.
Still…
She said nothing.
Because Raven was her friend too.
So instead, she channeled all that into teasing the princess until she exploded.
Raven… Completely Oblivious
Raven stood there, confused at the chaos erupting in front of her.
"Are you two… fighting?" she asked dryly.
"No!" Lyria said.
"Yes," Kara said.
Raven sighed and wiped sweat off her brow.
"Both of you are loud this morning."
Kara smirked.
"Maybe you make the princess nervous."
Lyria kicked her shin.
Raven simply stared blankly, absolutely not understanding a single hint.
Emotions… affection… flustered reactions…?
All of that was locked behind a thick, cold wall she had built across fifteen lifetimes.
To her, Lyria's red face meant nothing.
Just… strange.
After training, they sat near the orphanage garden.
Children ran around laughing; sunlight warmed the stone paths.
Lyria tried to act normal… but every time Raven looked at her, her heart jumped.
Kara leaned over and whispered, "Your face is turning pink again."
"It is NOT!"
"Absolutely is."
Raven watched them quietly, expression unreadable.
To her, this peaceful moment was useful—
time to recover, analyze, and prepare for the inevitable next move from the nobles.
Friends?
Warmth?
Feelings?
She told herself she didn't need any of that.
She looked at Lyria and Kara…
and saw tools.
Useful allies.
Pieces on a board.
Nothing more.
Or so she forced herself to believe.
That night, long after everyone slept, Raven sat on her bed, sharpening her dagger.
A faint ripple of darkness filled the room.
Then Morrivayne appeared—
this time choosing a solid form, her red eyes glowing like hot coals.
She floated lazily above the floor.
"So," Morrivayne purred, "what will you do about the nobles?"
Raven didn't look up.
"Nothing. Not yet."
"Oh?" Morrivayne tilted her head. "You're letting them live? How merciful."
Raven's expression sharpened.
"I didn't say I'd let them live."
She slid the dagger into its sheath with a soft click.
"I'll wait. Watch. Learn their movements. And when the time is right—"
Her voice dropped, cold as winter.
"—I'll end them all at once."
Morrivayne grinned, fangs gleaming.
"Good. Very good."
She leaned down until her face was inches from Raven's ear.
"One more question… Did you copy the assassins' magic? The Spirit-Binding?"
A slow, dangerous smile curled across Raven's lips.
"I did."
Her golden eyes glowed faintly.
"And I improved it."
It's a very powerful magic that works on everything and everyone ; if i develop it further and improve it, it can work on her too.
Morrivayne raised her eyebrows and said, " her "Oh, you mean her?"
Raven said with a wicked smile, "Yes, that damned goddess."
Morrivayne's delighted laughter echoed through the room like velvet and fire.
"Oh… this will be fun."