Lyria's POV
Warm sunlight slipped gently through the curtains of my room.
For a moment, I remained half asleep beneath the blankets, listening quietly to the distant sound of rainwater dripping from rooftops outside. Then
Knock. Knock.
I blinked slowly. Another knock followed.
Still sleepy, I pushed myself upright and rubbed my eyes tiredly before walking toward the door. The moment I opened it—I froze slightly.
Raven stood outside my room. Morning light from the corridor windows illuminated her dark hair softly while her golden eyes reflected faint warmth I rarely saw this early in the day.
A small smile rested on her lips. "Good morning, Princess." Her voice sounded calmer than usual. "Did you sleep well?"
I stared at her in surprise for a second before answering. "Good morning, Raven…" I glanced toward the windows. "What are you doing here this early?"
Raven raised one eyebrow slightly. "Early?" A faint amused smile appeared on her face. "It's already nine thirty."
My eyes widened immediately.
"What?!"
Raven let out a quiet chuckle.
"Kara warned me that you wouldn't wake up on your own because you a heavy sleeper."
My soul nearly left my body from embarrassment.
"But," Raven continued casually, "I didn't want to wake you too early since you were exhausted yesterday."
Heat instantly rushed to my face. My cheeks burned in humiliation. Kara…That traitor.
I coughed awkwardly and quickly tried defending myself. "My sleep is not heavy." The words came out less confidently than I wanted. "I was simply tired from the long journey so I ended up sleeping longer than usual."
Raven looked at me for several quiet seconds. Then the corner of her lips lifted slightly again.
"Sure , I believe you."
Which somehow made it even more embarrassing.
Only then did I notice another girl standing quietly beside her. A young maid with brown hair tied neatly behind her back bowed respectfully. Raven gestured toward her. "This is Mary."
The maid smiled politely. "I'll help you get ready, Princess."
Raven leaned lightly against the wall beside the doorway. "I'll wait here until you finish."
I blinked in surprise. "You're waiting for me?"
Raven shrugged casually. "I have nothing to do right now ."
I looked around the hallway briefly. "Where's Kara?"
"She went to the training grounds with Kalina."Raven answered immediately. "They've been there since morning."
I nodded quickly. "I won't take long. I'll finish getting ready immediately."
Raven crossed her arms calmly.
"Take your time."
I stepped aside, allowing Mary to enter before closing the door behind us. The next half hour passed quickly. Mary helped prepare my clothes and hair while quietly explaining small things about the Velmora estate and the servants working there.
Once I finally finished preparing myself, I stepped back into the hallway. Raven was still waiting exactly where I had left her.
She glanced toward me briefly. "You're finally awake enough to function."
I narrowed my eyes at her immediately. "I was functioning perfectly fine before."
"Hm."
That single sound somehow carried enough doubt to annoy me.
But before I could argue further, Raven turned calmly and began walking down the corridor.
"Come on. Breakfast first."
I followed beside her through the quiet mansion halls.
Compared to last night—The estate almost felt peaceful. Yet guards still stood stationed throughout the corridors. Fear had not disappeared with sunrise.
When we reached the dining hall, I realized immediately that no one else was there. A long table filled with breakfast dishes stretched across the room while servants quietly stood nearby.
I sat down slowly.
Raven remained standing behind my chair near the windows, arms folded calmly while sunlight outlined her figure softly.
She looked strangely relaxed this morning. I picked up my teacup before glancing toward her. "When did you and Kara wake up?"
"Very early."
"How early?"
"Around five.
I nearly choked on my tea. " and You call that normal?"
Raven looked genuinely confused. "It is normal for me ."
"No," I said immediately. "That is suffering."
A quiet laugh escaped her at that, dangerously pretty.
I quickly looked away and focused on my breakfast before my face embarrassed me again. "What did you do after waking up?" I asked while cutting a piece of bread.
"I trained for a while."
Of course she did.
"Then Kara woke up, so we sparred briefly."
That also sounded exactly like them.
Raven continued casually,
"After that we ate breakfast together and checked a few things around the estate."
I glanced toward her curiously.
"Did you sleep at all after returning from the caves?"
"Yeah, for a little bit."
I stopped eating briefly.
"You stayed awake this entire time?"
Raven shrugged lightly.
After finishing breakfast, I stood and adjusted my sleeves slightly. "Are we going to the training grounds now?"
Raven nodded once.
"Kara wanted us there."
The two of us left the dining hall together and headed toward the outer courtyard where the sounds of clashing steel already echoed faintly through the morning air.
The morning air in Velmora carried the sharp scent of steel and dust. The rhythmic strikes of swords against shields mixed with shouted commands from instructors and the heavy footsteps of armored soldiers.
The training ground itself was enormous.
Rows of knights sparred beneath the bright morning sun while others practiced archery farther away. Wooden dummies lined one side of the field, many of them split apart from repeated attacks. Servants moved between soldiers carrying water while commanders barked orders without rest.
And in the center of it all—
Kara was fighting one of the duke's soldiers.
Their swords collided with enough force to send sparks into the air.
Clang!
The soldier lunged forward aggressively, but Kara stepped aside smoothly before striking the flat of her blade against his ribs hard enough to knock him backward.
"Your stance is too open," she said calmly. "If that had been a real battle, you would already be dead."
Nearby, Kalina stood with her arms crossed as she observed the duel closely.
Unlike yesterday's elegant dress, today she wore light silver armor fitted perfectly to her body. A sword rested at her waist, and her long pale-pink hair had been tied into a high ponytail that swayed behind her whenever she moved.
She looked every bit like a commander.
Confident.
Sharp.
Beautiful.
"Keep your guard up," Kalina instructed the soldier. "Do not focus only on the weapon. Watch your opponent's shoulders and feet."
The soldier straightened immediately.
"Yes, Lady Kalina!"
At that moment, Kalina noticed us approaching.
She raised one hand toward the soldiers casually.
"Continue training," she ordered before walking toward us together with Kara.
Raven and I stopped beneath the shade near the edge of the training grounds, away from the harsh sunlight.
"Good morning," I said with a smile. "And sorry for interrupting your training."
Kalina smiled warmly. "Good morning, Princess. Don't worry. We were due for a short break anyway."
Then her blue eyes shifted toward Raven.
A faint smirk appeared on her lips. "Good morning to you too, Raven."
Raven answered in her usual calm voice.
"Morning."
I glanced between them quietly. There was something strange in the atmosphere whenever Kalina spoke to Raven. It felt like curiosity mixed with challenge.
As though Kalina had already decided Raven was someone she wanted to understand—or defeat.
I cleared my throat softly before speaking. "So… what happened last night at the cave?"
Kalina's expression immediately turned serious.
" We have found the monsters we were looking for," she said. "But what shocked us was their number." Her voice lowered slightly. "There were far too many."
"If that many powerful monsters attack Velmora at once," Kara added quietly, "the city would fall within an hour."
I had expected danger. But hearing them speak so seriously made the situation feel far more real.
"We need to move quickly then," I said after a moment. "Did you find anything about the missing people?"
Kara shook her head slowly. "No. We searched around the cave but found nothing."Then her gaze darkened slightly. "And honestly… I don't think they're alive anymore."
Kalina nodded in agreement. "I think so too. Too much time has passed."
Silence followed.
Then Raven finally spoke from behind me. "They're not dead."
All three of us turned toward her immediately.
Raven remained leaning casually against the stone wall with her arms crossed, golden eyes fixed on the soldiers training across the field rather than on us.
Kalina frowned. "What do you mean?"
" how could you possibly know that?" I asked.
Raven answered calmly. "All the people who disappeared so far were soldiers or experienced hunters, correct?"
Kalina blinked once before nodding. "Yes. None of them were children or elderly civilians."
For a brief moment, she fell silent as though organizing her thoughts carefully. Then she said flatly—"All of the missing people have likely been turned into monsters."
The world around me suddenly felt quieter. Even the sounds of swords clashing nearby seemed distant for a moment. Shock spread clearly across Kara's face.
Kalina stared at Raven in disbelief. "That's impossible," she said sharply. "Humans cannot become monsters."
I felt unease crawl down my spine. "Then… the creatures that attacked us in the forest…" I whispered nervously. "Were they once human too?"
Raven finally looked at me directly. "No. Those were ordinary monsters being controlled by someone. But the ones we saw last night were different."
A breeze passed through the training grounds, lifting strands of her dark hair. "Their mana felt human."
Kara frowned deeply. "Human mana?"
Raven nodded once. "You all know there's a subtle difference between the mana of humans and monsters."
Of course we knew. Every mage did. Monster mana felt wild. Chaotic. Instinctive. Human mana carried structure. Consciousness. Intent.
Raven looked us . "The creatures in that cave carried traces of both."
Kalina crossed her arms tightly. "So you're saying someone is transforming people into monsters?"
Raven shrugged lightly. "I'm saying it's possible." Her voice remained frustratingly calm despite the horrifying implication. "Though I'm not completely certain, yet." Then she added, "I need to capture one alive and examine it properly first."
Capture one alive? How terrifying were these creatures exactly…?
Even Kalina seemed unsettled now. Finally, she exhaled slowly and rubbed her temple. "So there's still a chance you're wrong."
Raven shrugged again without concern.
"Maybe."
Kara folded her arms and frowned at Raven. "Maybe?" she repeated. "But you sounded very confident a moment ago."
Raven leaned lazily against the wooden fence behind us, her arms crossed over her chest. "Because I trust my instincts."
Kalina let out a slow breath, clearly trying to remain patient. "No forbidden magic can transform humans into monsters," she said firmly. "Even dark mages cannot do something like that."
Raven finally looked at her. "You will be surprised to learn how much black and forbidden magic exists in the world, and how this magic can do unbelievable things.."
A cold breeze passed through the training grounds, carrying with it the distant sound of sparring swords.
I stepped slightly closer to Raven before asking quietly,
"If what you're saying is true… then those people might still be alive somewhere inside those creatures?"
For the first time since this conversation began—Raven hesitated. Only for a few seconds.
But I noticed it immediately. Her golden eyes shifted away from mine before she finally answered.
"I don't know."
But something inside me whispered that she did know. She simply did not want to say it aloud.
Kalina crossed her arms tightly. "You said you need to capture one alive."
Raven nodded once.
"Yes."
"And then what?"
"I'll examine its mana directly," Raven replied calmly. "That's the only way to confirm my theory."
Kalina stared at her for several long seconds before asking the question none of us truly wanted answered.
"…Can you reverse it?"
The atmosphere instantly became heavier.
Even Kara went silent.
For a moment the only sounds around us were swords colliding in the distance and the wind rustling through the flags above the walls.
Raven's expression did not change. But her silence lasted long enough to make my chest tighten.
"I don't know."
Kalina exhaled slowly and looked away toward the soldiers. "If information like this spreads through the city," she muttered, "panic will erupt immediately."
"Which is why," Raven said quietly, "this conversation stays between the four of us for now."
No one disagreed.
After a few moments, Kalina straightened her posture again, returning to business. "I'll continue questioning the patrol units stationed near the western forest."
Kara nodded.
"I'll head into the city and gather information from the hunters and merchants."
I spoke next. "And I'll investigate the council members. They were the only people who knew about our arrival in Velmora beforehand."
Kara then glanced toward Raven.
"And you? What are you going to do?"
Raven answered immediately without hesitation. "I'll stay with the Princess."
I quickly looked away before anyone noticed the small smile threatening to appear on my face.
Kalina, however, narrowed her eyes slightly.
"The Princess will be perfectly safe inside this mansion," she said calmly. "Everyone here is trustworthy."
Raven's golden eyes shifted toward her. "The person behind all of this is trying to overthrow the Duke," she replied evenly. "People like that don't act alone. I'm certain they have spies and allies somewhere inside this city."
Her gaze slowly swept across the training grounds. "Possibly among the soldiers." Then toward the mansion behind us. "Possibly among the servants."
Finally her eyes returned to Kalina. "Possibly even among the council."
Kalina stared at Raven quietly as though carefully weighing every word she said. The tension between them became obvious enough that even Kara noticed it.
So before things could become awkward, I quickly stepped forward and changed the subject.
"Did you gather the information about the council members I requested last night?"
Kalina blinked once before nodding. "Yes. Everything we found is over there." She pointed toward a nearby table covered with papers and documents.
I immediately walked toward it. and Raven followed right behind me without a word.
But before we reached the table, Kalina suddenly spoke again.
"Raven."
Raven stopped walking and glanced back at her lazily.
"What?"
Kalina smiled faintly. "What do you think about having a small sparring match with me?"
"…No."
The refusal came instantly.
Kalina's smile widened slightly. "That's unfortunate."
She slowly approached us, blue eyes fixed entirely on Raven. "I can't sense any mana from you at all," she said thoughtfully. "And yet everyone around you acts like you're incredibly dangerous."
Raven looked completely uninterested.
"And?"
Kalina tilted her head slightly. "So I'm curious." Her smile slowly turned into a smirk. "Why don't you show me your strength in a friendly duel?"
Kara and I exchanged a quick glance.
But Raven simply answered again in the same flat tone.
"No."
Kalina remained silent for a few seconds before speaking once more. "Don't tell me you're afraid of losing to me."
Still no reaction.
Then Kalina added smoothly. "Don't worry. I'll go easy on you."
That finally made Raven smile. But it was not a warm smile. It never reached her eyes. "Yeah," Raven replied calmly. "I'm terrified of losing."
I frowned slightly. Something about the way Kalina looked at Raven felt strange. Too interested. As though she had finally found something she had been searching for over a very long time.
Kara suddenly laughed loudly beside us.
"Don't bother trying that," she said while shaking her head. "Provoking Raven never works.I already tried before."
Kalina ignored Kara completely. Her eyes never left Raven for even a second. That made me uneasy.
The atmosphere on the training grounds had already become strange long before anyone spoke again.
Kalina's blue eyes remained fixed on Raven. She stared at her with open curiosity, as though trying to solve a puzzle that fascinated her more and more the longer she looked.
And Raven simply stood beside me calmly beneath the shade, one hand inside her pocket, completely unbothered.
That only seemed to make Kalina more interested. Slowly, Kalina stepped forward. Then another step and another.
Neither Kara nor I spoke as she approached Raven directly until only a very small distance remained between them. Too close. Far too close. Their faces were only inches apart now.
Yet Raven did not move at all. She simply looked down at Kalina quietly with those unreadable golden eyes.
I stood beside Raven holding the documents against my chest, confusion and unease twisting inside me.
Why was Kalina acting like this?
Kalina tilted her head slightly before a mischievous smile spread across her lips. "Interesting…" she murmured softly. Then she laughed quietly to herself.
"Ahhhh… this is really interesting."
Before I could understand what she meant, Kalina slowly raised her hand.
And gently touched Raven's face with the tips of her fingers.
My eyes widened instantly.
Even Kara looked stunned.
But the shock inside me was quickly replaced by something hotter. A strange wave of irritation twisted painfully in my stomach. She touched her. Without permission.
I was just about to step forward and pull Raven away from kalina when suddenly—
Raven grabbed Kalina's wrist. Not violently. But firmly enough to stop her completely. The temperature around us seemed to drop instantly.
Raven's voice was calm and Cold enough to send a shiver down my spine. "Who gave you permission to touch me?"
A chill crawled through my entire body at the sound of her voice.
But Kalina did not look intimidated at all. If anything, she looked even more excited. Her smile widened slightly. "Do you have a girlfriend, boyfriend ?" she asked casually.
Kara nearly choked beside me.
Kalina continued as though asking the most normal question in the world. "If not… how about going out with me?"
For a moment, my brain completely stopped working. What?
Raven stared at her silently. Those golden eyes contained absolutely no emotion now.
Then she spoke flatly. Her grip on Kalina's wrist loosened before she let go completely.
"You should take this situation more seriously," Raven said quietly. "Everyone's lives are at risk here."
Kalina rubbed her wrist lightly but still looked amused rather than offended.
"Ooooh, what are you talking about?" she replied playfully. "Of course I'm taking this seriously."
Then her smirk returned again.
"But the thing is…" she said smoothly in English, "if I like something—or someone—I prefer to take it immediately so I don't regret it later."
Her eyes locked onto Raven's and She bit her lip. "And right now… I like you."
Silence.
I could hear my own heartbeat.
Raven looked at her unseriously for several long seconds without speaking. Then she took one step backward away from Kalina and said coldly.
"Why don't you go do your job?" Her tone remained completely indifferent. "I'm sure you have something useful to do instead of bothering us."
Then Raven turned toward me immediately as though the conversation had already ended in her mind.
"Princess," she said calmly, "are you ready to go?"
I blinked in confusion. Go?
Go where?
But after a second, I quickly understood she was trying to leave this situation entirely. So I forced a smile onto my face.
"Yes," I answered while lifting the stack of papers slightly. "I already got the information about the council members."
Then I looked toward Kara and Kalina. "Sorry for interrupting your training," I said politely. "You can continue now."
Without waiting for another response, I began walking away beside Raven.
The moment we turned our backs, Kalina's voice followed us from behind.
"Just so you know—"
I glanced back briefly.
Kalina was smiling again.
"I don't give up easily."
Raven did not even bother responding. She simply kept walking beside me in complete silence.
The moment Raven and I left the training grounds, the heavy atmosphere from earlier slowly faded behind us.
I glanced at Raven beside me before asking curiously, "Did we agree on going somewhere?"
Raven looked at me from the corner of her eye, a small smile appearing on her lips. "What do you think about taking a small tour around the city?"
"This is your first time here," she added calmly. "Surely you're not planning to lock yourself inside the mansion during our entire stay."
A laugh escaped me softly.
"You're right."
I looked ahead toward the massive gates slowly opening for us. "I was so focused on the council members and the disappearances that I completely forgot how beautiful this city is."
Raven hummed quietly in response.
I looked at her for a moment before quickly turning away again. There's no reason to worry about Kalina, I told myself silently. Raven barely wanted to speak to her at all.
The streets of Velmora were far livelier than I expected despite the fear hanging over the city in recent days.
Unlike Aurelia, which shined with royal elegance and towering white structures, Velmora felt warmer and more alive. The city sat deep within the embrace of the surrounding forest, and nature seemed woven into every corner of it. Vines climbed stone buildings, flowers bloomed from hanging balconies, and enormous trees stretched between districts like ancient guardians watching over the city.
Even with the increased patrols and nervous atmosphere, the people still welcomed me kindly.
The moment word spread that the Princess of Aurelia was walking through the city, smiles began appearing everywhere. Merchants bowed respectfully from their shops. Women greeted us warmly from windows above. Even exhausted guards stationed around the streets straightened proudly when we passed.
And the children—The children were the boldest of all. A small girl suddenly ran toward me holding a bundle of white flowers nearly too large for her arms.
"T-These are for you, Princess!" Her cheeks turned bright red after speaking.
I blinked in surprise before kneeling slightly to accept the flowers carefully. "Thank you," I said gently.
The little girl smiled brightly before running back toward her friends while giggling excitedly. I couldn't stop smiling afterward.
Beside me, Raven walked quietly the entire time.
We visited a small café near the northern district where the owner nearly panicked after realizing who I was. Raven looked mildly amused the entire time while the poor man nervously offered us free tea three separate times.
Afterward, we walked through the public gardens built around the center lake of Velmora. Flowers of every color covered the paths while musicians played softly beneath shaded gazebos.
For a short while—It almost felt like there were no monsters. No disappearances. No assassins. Just a peaceful city enjoying an ordinary afternoon.
Eventually we reached the center market district where the streets became crowded with merchants, hunters, craftsmen, and travelers. Colorful banners hung above the roads while countless voices blended together into lively noise.
The entire time, Raven remained close beside me. Not once did she leave my side. And…I liked that far more than I should have.
Nearly four hours passed before we finally began returning toward the Duke's mansion. The streets had become quieter now as the sun slowly lowered across the horizon, painting the city in warm golden light.
As we walked side by side through a quieter street, I spoke softly. "Did you notice someone following us since we left the mansion?"
Raven glanced at me briefly. Then a faint smile appeared on her face.
"Yes. And I'm surprised you noticed too."
I crossed my arms lightly. "They weren't exactly hiding very well."
Raven chuckled quietly. "It wasn't only one person," she said calmly. "There are three." Her gaze briefly shifted toward a rooftop before returning forward. "And they're still following us."
I lowered my voice slightly. "I noticed they never tried attacking us. They're only observing."
"Yes."
"Are you going to do something about them?"
Raven nodded once.
"Yes."
I looked at her curiously.
"But not now," she added. "Tonight."
I frowned slightly. "They'll disappear the moment we leave the city and approach the mansion."
Raven looked at me with amusement in her golden eyes. "Did you forget?, I told you before—I have tracking abilities. As long as they remain somewhere within the city," Raven continued calmly, "I'll find them."
Raven suddenly asked, "Do you think one of the council members is behind everything happening in Velmora?"
I thought carefully before answering.
"No."
Raven looked at me silently, waiting.
"I don't think it's one of the council members themselves," I explained slowly. "But I do think someone close to them might be involved."
I glanced toward her.
"That would explain how they obtain important information and learned about our arrival and prepared the ambush beforehand."
Raven remained thoughtful for a moment.
"…I agree. I also don't think it's one of the council members directly," she said quietly. "Which means we'll need to meet them personally to confirm our suspicions."
Then she added, "The Duke mentioned there would be a council meeting this evening." Her golden eyes shifted toward me. "What do you think about attending?"
"I agree."
Because if someone truly was hiding among the shadows of Velmora—Then tonight might finally reveal the first crack in their mask.
A few minutes later, the enormous gates of the Duke's mansion appeared before us once again as the evening sun slowly disappeared behind the forest surrounding the city.
It was nearly eight in the evening when Raven and I finally left the council meeting. The discussions had lasted for hours. Names. Reports. Missing patrols but nothing useful, No clear suspect. No evidence. Only more questions.
The sound of our footsteps echoed softly against the polished floors while Raven walked beside me with her usual calm expression. Without really thinking about it, I changed direction toward the gardens.
Raven noticed immediately but said nothing.
The moment we stepped outside, a cool night breeze brushed against my face. The garden looked completely different beneath the moonlight. During the day it had been beautiful—But at night it felt almost unreal.
Large stone paths curved elegantly through endless rows of flowers and roses of every color imaginable. White lilies glowed softly beneath the moon while crimson roses climbed marble arches wrapped in silver vines. A massive fountain stood proudly in the center of the garden, crystal water flowing gently beneath the reflection of countless stars scattered across the night sky.
Mana stones embedded along the pathways illuminated the garden with soft blue light, blending beautifully with the pale glow of the moon.
The place felt peaceful. Like a world untouched by the fear consuming Velmora.
Raven and I walked slowly through the garden side by side in comfortable silence until we eventually reached a quieter section hidden behind tall hedges and flowering trees.
A small stone table rested there surrounded by several chairs.
I sat down first.
Raven sat across from me calmly, crossing one leg over the other.
But after staring at her for a second—I suddenly stood again. Raven raised an eyebrow slightly as I walked around the table and sat beside her instead.
"This is better," I said with a small smile.
Raven looked at me silently for a moment, clearly confused by my decision, but she did not move away.
The soft sound of the fountain echoed quietly behind us.
"We still don't have a single clue leading us toward whoever's behind all this." The frustration in my chest slowly grew heavier as I said , "I was hoping we'd find at least something tonight… even a small lead."
Then I looked toward her. "So what do we do now?"
A faint smile appeared on Raven's lips. "Don't worry." Her voice remained calm and steady as always. "We still have plenty of trails to follow."
The moonlight reflected softly in her golden eyes.
"And eventually… we'll find whoever's behind this."
I smiled faintly.
"You're right."
Then without thinking too much about it—
I gently took her hand. Raven glanced down briefly at our hands but did not pull away. "Thank you," I said softly. "For coming with me to Velmora."
The cool night breeze moved gently through the garden around us.
"You've already helped us so much… and you're still helping." I lowered my gaze slightly. "I honestly don't know what we would've done without you."
Raven looked away casually. "I didn't do anything worth thanking me for."
I immediately frowned. "How can you say that?" I tightened my fingers around her hand slightly. "If you hadn't been there during the ambush…"
The memory returned instantly. The blood. The monsters. Those men. Their disgusting laughter. The way they looked at me. At Kara.
My grip around Raven's hand tightened unconsciously. "All the soldiers were exhausted," I whispered quietly. "Even Kara was tired… and those assassins…"
I stopped speaking. I could still hear their voices inside my head. We'll have some fun with the princess before killing her.
A wave of disgust and fear twisted painfully inside me again.
Raven remained silent beside me, simply watching me quietly.
I took a slow breath before continuing. "So please… accept my gratitude."I looked directly into her golden eyes. "I'll owe you for the rest of my life."
My voice softened further. "You've already saved me twice." Then I smiled faintly. "And if there's ever something you want… please don't hesitate to ask me."
I squeezed her hand gently. "I'd do anything for you."
For several seconds Raven said nothing. "Fine," she said quietly. "I'll accept your thanks. And yes," she added calmly, "there is something I want."
I blinked curiously.
"What is it?"
Raven looked at me directly. "I won't always be around to save you. So when we return to Aurelia…" she continued, "I want to begin training you properly."
"…Training?"
"Very harsh training," Raven clarified without hesitation. "So you can become stronger as quickly as possible."
The seriousness in her voice made my chest tighten strangely.
"You need to learn how to defend yourself," she said quietly. "For the times when neither Kara nor I are there to protect you." Then after a small pause, she added, "Of course… only if you agree."
I stared at her silently. When neither Kara nor I are there…Why was she talking like this? Why did it sound like she planned to disappear from my life someday?
The thought alone made something painful twist inside my chest. But I forced a small smile onto my face anyway.
"I want to become stronger too," I replied softly. "So… I agree."
Raven finally pulled her hand away gently before reaching into her pocket. She took out a small black box and held it toward me.
I blinked in surprise. "What's this?" Then I looked up at her. "…Is this for me?"
Raven nodded once.
Curious, I carefully opened the box. Inside rested a beautiful silver necklace. At the center hung a white crystal shaped like a raindrop, shining softly beneath the moonlight.
My eyes widened immediately. "It's beautiful…" A genuine smile spread across my face. "Is this really mine?"
Raven looked slightly uncomfortable for the first time that evening.
"Yes."Then she added seriously, "I know it's cheap and not particularly impressive, but I need you to wear it."
I looked back at the necklace lovingly.
"Through that necklace," Raven explained calmly, "I'll always be able to find you no matter where you are."
My breath caught slightly.
"It's just a precaution," she continued. "If something happens and your life is in danger, all you have to do is hold the pendant in your hand and push a little mana into it, and I will find you instantly.… I'll come to you immediately no matter how far away you are."
Then her gaze sharpened slightly. "So don't take it off while we're in Velmora."
A soft warmth spread through my chest. What are you talking about…This isn't cheap at all. I smiled brightly at her. "I really love it."
Then I carefully removed the necklace from the box before looking at her again. "Can you help me put it on?"
Raven hesitated briefly. Then slowly nodded. She stood up and moved behind me.
My heartbeat suddenly became painfully loud. Trying to stay calm, I gathered all my hair to one side to expose my neck so she could fasten the necklace more easily.
I felt Raven's fingers brush lightly against the back of my neck as she carefully placed the necklace around me.
A small shiver ran through my body instantly. When she finished, I touched the crystal gently and smiled shyly.
"Thank you. I really love it."
Raven returned quietly to her seat beside me. "There's no need to thank me," she said calmly.
My fingers never once left the necklace around my neck as though reassuring myself it was truly there.. The night garden had become quieter after my conversation with Raven.
Raven sat beside me silently, her golden eyes calmly watching the night sky above the garden.