As Nosil passed through the door and disappeared from sight, Sophy stared at her father and Philip, their paralysis unsettling her. This sudden immobility made her wonder more about the mystery of the nomads.
"Is that it father? I can't believe you just let him walk away!" Sophy's voice rang out, laced with incredulity and frustration.
Receiving no response, she bolted after Nosil, determination sparking in her eyes. Grabbing a sword from a nearby guard, she dashed towards the exit, her mind set on erasing this insolent figure from existence.
Victor, noticing his daughter's swift departure, immediately signaled to Rimo and his subordinates to follow and bring her back. His thoughts lingered on the nomads, a group he had believed vanquished from his lands years ago.
With only two days left until the ceremony, Philip's thoughts churned with worry. Any disruption now could jeopardize the celebration. He approached Victor, urging him to clear the hall for a private discussion.
Victor ordered everyone except his chancellor to leave. Once the hall was empty, he turned to Philip, "So, what's the matter?"
Philip voiced his concerns, "Sir, if that boy was right about the nomads attacking your daughter, I strongly suggest you reconsider attending the ceremony with your family."
Victor's veins pulsed with anger, his patience fraying. "Don't test me, Philip... You want me to hide within these walls? Me, the mighty Victor?" He slammed his fist against the arm of his throne, his gaze fierce. "Watch your mouth."
Philip immediately apologized, "Forgive me, sir," and fell silent.
Victor's mind whirled with decisions. "Continue overseeing the preparations... Since the formidable Kenzar is stationed at the borders, instruct our new dominator Maxim to stay close to the palace... Summon Amelia to handle the safety of my family, she is more than enough" he commanded.
"Stay sharp," he cautioned, his eyes narrowing with concern. "Canceling the celebration, or even suggesting that I shouldn't attend, might be exactly what this attack was meant for... It's as if someone is recklessly approaching the lion's den... heedless of the consequences".
He paused, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air. "It's a lot to process right now... We'll discuss it in more detail later".
After a moment's hesitation, Philip asked, "What about the boy, Nosil? Should I send someone to eliminate him?"
Victor struggled with the decision. After a brief pause, he replied, "I don't know… Leave him for now... Focus on the celebration... I had hoped to recruit him... What a waste."
Meanwhile, Sophy approached Nosil, her movements quiet and deliberate. Using her fencing experience, she advanced silently, hoping to stab him from behind. She knew that defeating him head-on was a mere illusion.
Nosil walked calmly through the castle yard, but as he sensed a swift sword strike heading toward his back, he considered dodging or striking back. His good temper never lasted this long.
Without turning, Nosil warned, "I thought I was clear… do you want to die that much?"
Sophy ignored his words and charged forward.
Nosil moved quickly, disarming her before the sword could reach him. He took the weapon from her trembling hands and, with a swift motion, brought her down, making her lose her balance.
Sophy found herself on the ground, with Nosil on top of her, pinning her hands. She looked up, meeting his icy gaze. His eyes, filled with a lust for blood, were barely concealed by the worn-out bandages on his ravaged face.
In a cold whisper, Nosil said, "If you want to kill someone that badly, don't tremble."
Still struggling, Sophy spat, "I hate you… I will kill you no matter what".
The oppression and her helplessness made her cry like a child. She screamed and cursed, "Curse you… let me go… you monster… damn you."
Her insults made Nosil's blood boil. He knew if she continued, he might lose control and kill her, which would be a reckless thing to do.
To stop her, he punched the ground near her head, the force of the punch leaving a hole and freezing Sophy in place.
With an angry look, he snarled, "That's it, bitch... Be quiet."
Once Sophy stopped screaming, Nosil released her and began to walk away.
Broken in spirit, Sophy asked, "Who are you, really?"
Nosil didn't stop, merely throwing his answer over his shoulder, "Ask you father for his sin"
Sophy didn't understand his cryptic words, but they left a deep impression on her mind, like rain on a barren desert.
As Nosil disappeared into the distance, Rimo and his fellow guards arrived at Sophy's place, finding her lying on the ground, wiping her tears. Rimo instructed his men to search the surrounding area.
"Don't bother," Sophy informed him, her voice trembling. "He's gone." The guards halted, respecting her words.
Rimo leaned down to help her to her feet. "Let's go back inside... Your father is waiting."
Sophy stood up, her spirit broken but her resolve unwavering. "I swear... I will make you regret this," she vowed, unaware that Nosil had saved her life once again.
Rimo heard her words but remained silent, his own grudge against Nosil simmering beneath the surface.
The guards escorted Sophy inside.
Nosil headed toward the southern gate, where he would meet Aya again.
"What a day… this city makes me sick... Who would have thought I'd run into Victor this early?... Killing him would have been easy, I guess... It would save us a lot of trouble... The mission is what matters in the end".
The sun dipped below the horizon as Nosil reached the southern gate, casting long shadows over the sprawling city.
He ascended a nearby rooftop, his movements fluid and silent, and settled in to wait for Aya which was somewhere on the other side of the city, gathering the information they desperately seeking for.
It wasn't long before he spotted her, weaving through the crowd with practiced ease.As she drew closer, Nosil's curiosity got the better of him. "Why did you try to kill her?" he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper, yet filled with intensity.
Aya didn't bother to deny it. She met his gaze, a sardonic smile playing on her lips. "So, you saw me then..." She looked away briefly, a laugh escaping her. "Is that why you knocked her out? I thought I was interrupting something".
Nosil's expression remained stern, unimpressed by her jest. "You were too reckless... That's Victor's daughter, you know".
Aya's demeanor shifted, her eyes narrowing. "Look who's talking!... I thought I warned you about causing trouble." Her voice grew sharper, anger simmering beneath the surface. "What the hell were you doing in that castle?".
Regret flickered across Nosil's face, but he pushed it aside, attempting to divert the conversation. Aya, however, was relentless. "Why did you save her from me anyway?".
Nosil's response was measured, almost calculating. "She will pay us back in the near future."Aya's skepticism was evident. "No, she won't... More specifically, she can't, not with who's after her".
Nosil shrugged, seemingly indifferent. "Probably... But let's leave that to her fortune... I got what we came for—a clue about that man".
Aya's interest piqued, her frustration giving way to curiosity, "I didn't find anything myself... So, what is it?".
Nosil leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "The man we are looking for is in the Newlands... the Ram Lands", his eyes gleamed with a mysterious intensity, "We have to find him... the Drowning Jack".