CHAPTER 30: Tangled Blade

Without a moment of hesitation, Kaziel struck.

His blade met Miki’s with a force that sent shockwaves through the air, the sheer power of his counterattack hurling her backward.

She crashed hard, rolling across the ground before shattering through the glass of Rin’s domain.

The illusion fractured, and in the blink of an eye—they were no longer inside it.

Miki’s body slammed into a bookshelf, sending a cascade of books crashing to the floor as the entire study trembled from the impact.

Rin’s eyes widened in shock.

Her domain had collapsed.

It had crashed into nothingness.

Her control, her power—it had all unraveled. Helion’s interference had tangled her fate itself.

But worse than that—

The strength Kaziel had just shown.

To throw Miki—who she knew to be one of the strongest among them—

To cast her aside like that, with a single parry.

Rin’s hands trembled.

She looked down at her broken scissors—the very symbol of her control.

She shouldn’t have messed with him.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze.

And met Kaziel’s eyes.

A terrifying gaze.

One filled with unwavering focus. Unrelenting resolve.

For the first time, Sakura saw it.

Something in her chest clenched, a cold shiver running down her spine. She only managed to take a single step back.

Miki pushed herself up slowly, her expression twisting with rage. The cheerful, cutesy mask she wore shattered, revealing something far more vicious, raw, and ugly.

“SCREW YOU! You piece of SHIT!”

Her voice, once playful, dropped into a deeper, guttural growl as she lunged.

She attacked brutally, her blade a blur of fury, striking at Kaziel with reckless abandon.

Kaziel, however, remained calm. Focused.

His sword met hers with precise parries, each deflection smooth and controlled. His serious gaze never wavered from hers. He was done with her games.

Miki’s attacks came fast, each swing carrying enough force to carve into the stone walls around them. Her anger boiled over, driving her into a vicious frenzy.

Yet, Kaziel held his ground.

His movements were sharp, measured, each counter perfectly timed. Sparks flew from their clashing blades, illuminating the dim study in bursts of electric light.

The faint crackle of lightning pulsed in his left eye as he sidestepped another of Miki’s wild lunges.

She struck downward, a thunderous blow meant to break him. Kaziel shifted, meeting the force with a parry so effortless it barely made him flinch.

Miki’s eyes blazed with fury. Her strikes became more frantic, her movements heavier—but sloppier.

No matter how hard she swung, Kaziel was always there, his blade deflecting hers with effortless precision. She saw it then—the sparks in his left eye intensifying, his aura beginning to hum with raw power.

“STOP LOOKING DOWN ON ME!” she roared.

She spun with all her might, her attack generating a shockwave that sent debris flying.

But Kaziel was already gone.

A blur of lightning—he dodged, his body moving with unnatural speed. Before she could react, he countered with a swift, arcing strike.

Their blades met again, the impact echoing like thunder.

Kaziel stepped in, fluid and controlled, his movements as sharp as the edge of his blade.

Every strike flowed seamlessly, each motion precise, unyielding.

His scarf whipped behind him, caught in the momentum of his deadly rhythm—a streak of motion trailing his every move.

Miki swung wildly, frustration twisting her face. Kaziel ducked low, sidestepping her slash before bringing his sword upward in a calculated strike.

For a brief moment—he had the advantage.

His second blade gleamed, coming down with decisive force.

But before it could land, a blur of fur and fangs blocked him.

Anna’s wolf lunged in, claws flashing, deflecting Kaziel’s blade mid-swing.

But the steel met flesh.

Kaziel’s grip instinctively tightened, his blade cutting through the beast instead of pulling back.

Miki staggered, shock flashing in her eyes. She gasped, realizing the truth.

She couldn’t control him with her gaze.

Kaziel’s willpower was too strong.

For the first time, fear crept into her expression.

Kaziel didn’t hesitate.

He closed the distance in an instant, his blade poised for a killing strike.

His stance was unyielding, his entire body thrumming with power. Miki felt a shiver run down her spine—Kaziel wasn’t holding back anymore.

But just as his blade arced toward her—

Anna stepped between them.

Her own weapon clashed against his at the last second, deflecting the fatal strike. The impact sent both of them skidding backward.

For a heartbeat, their eyes locked.

Kaziel’s expression was unreadable, a mixture of confusion and restrained anger.

Anna’s gaze was steady, her breath even as she raised her blade again.

The tension in the room crackled like a live wire.

Kaziel’s voice was cold, carrying a weight that made Sakura flinch.

“Move.”

Anna didn’t answer. She held her ground, her crimson eyes narrowed with determination.

Before either of them could make another move, a voice cut through the tension—smooth, deliberate.

“Stand down, Kaziel. She’s not your enemy.”

Helion’s voice.

Kaziel’s grip on his sword tightened. His breath slowed as his gaze flicked to Helion—then back to Anna.

But he didn’t lower his blade.

Not yet.

Suddenly, a loud knock suddenly echoed from outside, the sharp sound breaking the tension.

“Hey! Is something happening in there?”

It had to be one of the Duke’s guards.

Sakura froze, realization crashing over her. She had completely forgotten—they were back in the real world. The study room stood around them, untouched, as if none of it had ever happened.

The sudden shift caught them all off guard.

And in that split second—Anna struck.

With a swift motion, she flinched Kaziel’s sword away, forcing him back as she stepped out of range.

Rin wasted no time. A portal flickered to life beside her.

Her lips curled into a smirk, but her eyes burned with defiance. “You’re totally winning this, Fateweaver, but don’t think I’ll lose to you again~”

She shot one last glance at Helion, letting out a soft, irritated scoff before stepping into the portal.

Helion merely watched her leave, his expression unreadable.

Miki, however, lingered—waiting for Anna.

Anna turned toward Kaziel, her crimson gaze locking onto him one last time.

A glare. Cold. Sharp. Piercing.

Kaziel didn’t move.

For a fleeting moment, that look—those eyes—dragged him back to the past.

A past where they were just children.

As he watched Anna step through the portal with Miki, disappearing into the unknown—

His fists clenched. Tightly.

“Wait—” Sakura stepped forward, but before she could move, Helion raised a hand, stopping her.

“Let them go,” he said, his voice calm but firm.

Sakura turned to him, confused. “Why?”

Helion’s gaze softened slightly. “It’s better this way. For now.”

Kaziel remained silent. His gaze stayed locked on the portal, watching as it pulsed and shimmered—until, finally, it sealed shut behind them.

For a moment, he stood motionless. His expression unreadable. Then, without a word, he turned away.

Sakura’s thoughts swirled. Something about this felt wrong.

Like a thread left loose, waiting to unravel.

She turned toward Helion and Kaziel, her chest tightening as realization settled in.

This wasn’t over.

Their battle had only just begun.

The sun had already begun to rise, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold as they stepped outside. Sakura’s gaze drifted to the entrance, where she noticed Illiad waiting.

Her eyes flickered toward Kaziel, who still looked lost in thought, a quiet sadness lingering in his expression. Meanwhile, Helion’s face remained unreadable, his gaze distant.

As Illiad approached, he adjusted his glasses. “I’ve… found a little information.”

As Anna stepped out of the portal, her breath came in ragged gasps. Drained. Her mana was dangerously low, her body betraying her with violent tremors. Her hands refused to obey, shaking uncontrollably as she struggled to steady herself.

She had gone her whole day without drinking blood.

Now, exhaustion weighed heavily on her—her strength fading, her body craving what it had been denied.

She needed human blood to survive.

Miki, who had been watching from the side, moved closer. She knelt beside Anna, her expression unreadable. Wordlessly, she reached out, tilting Anna’s chin up with gentle insistence.

"Anna," she said softly. "Take a deep breath."

Anna flinched, her instincts screaming that Miki might try to take control again. Her crimson eyes darted downward, avoiding her gaze.

But Miki’s voice remained calm. Firm.

"Careful."

Then, without hesitation, Miki took her dagger and sliced it across her wrist.

Crimson dripped freely.

Anna froze.

Her breath hitched, her entire body locking up as she stared at the deep red flow. A stunned silence hung between them.

Miki, however, remained unfazed. She lowered her arm, positioning the wound just above Anna’s lips.

For a single moment, Anna hesitated. Then, instinct took over.

With a desperate grip, she seized Miki’s wrist and drank deeply, her movements rough and urgent.

The moment the blood touched her tongue, a soothing calm spread through her body. The tremors in her hands stilled. Her muscles relaxed. Her ragged breathing evened out.

From the shadows, Rin watched in silence. Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, her expression remained neutral. But after a long moment, she sighed.

"Prepare yourself," she said quietly, her tone measured. "They won’t give up so easily. They’ll come for us again."

Miki, still holding her wrist steady for Anna, replied without looking away. "Don’t worry. This place isn’t important to me. It’s just a trap to catch Valcrid."

Rin’s gaze sharpened, her posture shifting slightly. Though her words remained calm, they carried a subtle weight of weariness.

"I know you can’t let her go, but forcing her like this? What would Hanz think of us?"

Miki didn’t answer.

She ignored the question, her focus remaining solely on Anna’s recovery.

The room settled into a heavy silence.

But the unspoken tension lingered.

Inside Illiad's office, Sakura and the group gathered around a wooden desk cluttered with scattered notes and parchment. Illiad unrolled a scroll and placed it on the table, straightening his glasses before speaking.

“Then it’s finally clear—the two girls are from Thalvaris’s tribe.” He exhaled, crossing his arms. “I was surprised to learn their mission was far more than just working with the forbidden Sapphire Heart… but what struck me as strange was this.”

He pointed to a torn, aged record, his finger tracing over the faded text. “Some of their files indicate undercover work. But rather than protecting secrets, they were… leaking them.”

Kaziel’s brows furrowed. “Leaking them?”

Illiad nodded, tapping the parchment. “It seems they were secretly selling off the names of smugglers—exposing them to the public. It’s unclear why, but someone wanted those names out.”

Helion, who had been flipping his coin idly, finally spoke. “You’ve gathered a lot of information, Illiad.”

Illiad smirked. “Well, I have my ways. Having connections at the Tradepost helps, and… well, anything tied to the Sapphire Heart buyer always leads back to deeper backgrounds.”

Helion’s coin stilled between his fingers. “You sure you did this alone?”

At that, both Kaziel and Sakura turned toward Illiad, their eyes studying him carefully.

Illiad stiffened.

For a split second, he considered lying—but he knew better. He couldn’t fool them. Not this time.

With a sigh, he finally admitted, “Well… I was a bit curious.”

His thoughts drifted back to that night—the moment he had met the guard leader at the entrance.

“I met your father, and I was right about it… That girl you met—she was a Divine Oneness Candidate…!”

The guard leader’s voice was firm as he stood in front of Illiad, the dim light of the back alley casting long shadows around them.

Illiad exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. “So you’re saying I held onto the document I already told you I didn’t have?!”

His glare was sharp, but the guard leader didn’t flinch.

“I told you—I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

Before he could react, the guard grabbed his collar, yanking him forward.

“You didn’t take it,” the guard leader muttered, his gaze piercing, “but your ally did.”

Illiad froze.

That was all it took—one second of hesitation.

The guard leader had caught him off guard, and he knew it.

Back in the office, Illiad sighed, rubbing his temples as he explained. “The guard actually met my father in prison, asking about it directly. Then he told me everything—about how you guys took the information on Sakura.”

His gaze shifted toward Sakura, who had remained quiet throughout his words.

Helion, however, smirked. “So? Are you saying you want to trade information so you can help us track down our missing ally?”

Illiad stiffened, his teeth grinding slightly. “That’s… not what I meant.”

But Helion had already seen through him.

Illiad clenched his fists. He was right.

His eyes snapped to Helion, frustration flashing in them. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?!”

Helion didn’t even blink. “Because the information had nothing to do with you.”

Kaziel stepped forward, his tone unyielding. “We needed it for the High Priestess’s request.”

Illiad felt his breath hitch.

“You mean… Her Grace, Amastacia?”

Kaziel held his gaze and nodded.

Illiad slumped back in his chair, defeated.

A heavy sigh escaped him as he rested his head against the wooden backrest. “Then I can’t do anything about this… Her Grace’s request is out of my league.”

His fingers pressed against his temple, the weight of the situation finally sinking in.

Sakura, listening silently, she knew exactly who the High Priestess was.

The most noble rank among all other nations.

The daughter of the Emperor of Selphine. The guardian of the Sapphire Heart. The lineage her own mother descended from.

If he went against the High Priestess’s will, it wouldn’t just be his tradepost at risk—it could mean the complete downfall of everything he built.

or worse—

With the corrupted Sapphire Heart trade exposed, Illiad knew one thing for certain—his company was doomed.

Unless he could prove his innocence or shift the blame, everything he built would collapse.

However, Valcrid—the true orchestrator of the trade—remained hidden, using Illiad as a scapegoat.

To turn the tables, Illiad sought out Kaziel and the others at the masquerade ballroom, hoping to strike a deal—one that could either clear his name or bring Valcrid down once and for all.

Yet, Kaziel and others hadn’t realized the game they had walked into.

A dangerous one.

Because while Illiad focused on Valcrid, Thalvaris—the underground faction—had set their sights elsewhere.

They weren’t just involved.

They were luring Anna in.

Using Valcrid as bait.

But why?

What did they want with her?

Was this about something personal?

Kaziel stepped forward, his expression sharp as his gaze settled on the old Thalvaris records spread across the table.

"These little pieces of information help, Illiad. At least now, we know what to do next."

Illiad lifted his head, something clicking in his mind. "What are you thinking?"

Kaziel’s fingers traced over one of the documents before he spoke.

"I recall that Dominic Veil user, protecting Valcrid at the last second before she was almost down. That means one thing—he isn’t going anywhere. Not without Thalvaris."

His eyes narrowed, determination settling in. "That gives us a chance."

Across the room, Helion flipped his coin between his fingers. “And I believe, we already have someone investigating for us.”

Sakura’s gaze instinctively shifted toward the raven perched by the window, watching them in eerie silence.

Illiad’s eyes widened in shock as he shot up from his chair, "Wait… you're saying Anna is risking herself to investigate this?" his gaze darting between them, disbelief etched across his face.

Kaziel nodded, his tone unwavering. "That's only what I thought. When I fought her, she hesitated. If she truly wanted me dead, she wouldn’t have held back." His voice was firm, resolute. "She already knows something. She might even be trying to uncover everything on her own."

His expression hardened.

Their only hope now rested on the raven leading them to Anna.

Helion crossed his arms, his golden eyes gleaming with thought. "Though our chances might be slim. Those girls are sharp. If they realize Anna isn’t fully under their control, things could turn against her fast."

Sakura hesitated before speaking. "We’re not even certain if Anna is fully conscious right now..."

Helion frowned, turning slightly toward her. "What do you mean?"

Kaziel, however, was already watching Sakura carefully, as if sensing she knew something more.

Sakura glanced away, contemplating, "Um.." before she finally met Helion’s gaze again. Her hesitation was brief, but curiosity flickered in her eyes. "After she turned her back on you, what happened to your bond through the contract?"

At her words, Helion’s gaze flickered in realization.

A moment of silence passed before he finally shook his head.

"...She already cut me loose."

Kaziel’s gaze sharpened.

Sakura frowned, her expression darkening.

She severed the bond.

A clean break. Instant disconnection.

That meant—

She could do the same to the raven.

Sakura’s eyes flicked back to the bird, watching it carefully.

A heavy silence settled over them.

The weight of her words lingered—because if Anna wasn’t in control of herself, then everything they assumed about her investigating on her own could be wrong.

Meanwhile, Kaziel turned back to Illiad, his tone sharp. “Or, we could ask the informant—your father.”

Illiad’s expression darkened. “After what happened? I doubt he’ll talk.”

Kaziel then glanced toward Helion. His eyes met Helion’s, who returned a smirk,—this time laced with something more sinister. “Then we’ll just have to… encourage him.”

His golden eyes glowed faintly, Sakura knew exactly what he meant.

The Fateweaver.

A dangerous move.

But could be an effective one.

After all, Illiad’s father knew far more about Thalvaris than any of them. He had worked with them before—and he still had secrets left to uncover.