Alia held her breath, doing her best to minimize her presence. Her eyes were fixed on Eryx, as her heart pounded in her chest like a war drum. Each deliberate, steady step he took seemed to tread directly on her nerves, making her feel as if she could barely breathe.
"No, I can't let him find me."
Her mind raced. She could still feel Eryx's sharp gaze sweeping through the study like a blade, ready to cut through any disguise or subtle movement.
"The only reason he hasn't caught me yet is because of the experience from my past life. If I hadn't used my thief skills to lower my breathing to its absolute minimum, I'd have been discovered already. If he sees me, he'll know I'm a 'well-bred lady' who somehow knows how to use advanced thief techniques. Everything will fall apart."
She couldn't allow that to happen. It was clear that Eryx was no ordinary person. His keen awareness and precise movements marked him as a dangerous opponent. Alia knew her abilities, not yet fully recovered from her past life, were no match for his. If she were exposed, the best-case scenario would be questions about her identity; the worst, execution at his hands.
"I have to find a way to distract him."
As Eryx moved closer to her hiding spot, Alia made a swift decision. She silently picked up a coffee saucer, its smooth surface cool against her fingers.
Just as Eryx's steps halted in front of the bookshelf where she was concealed, she used a quick flick of her wrist to hurl the saucer toward the far side of the room.
"Crash!"
The sharp sound shattered the stillness of the study, echoing from the shadows on the other side of the room. Eryx's head snapped toward the source of the noise. His body instinctively shifted into a defensive stance, and his hand crept toward the weapon at his waist.
"Who's there?" His voice was low and cold, carrying a deadly edge.
Silence. Not a single reply.
Eryx narrowed his eyes, scanning the room with suspicion. His gaze lingered, his sharp instincts working to pinpoint the disturbance. After a moment, when no one revealed themselves, his brow furrowed slightly. He muttered under his breath, "Enough for tonight. It seems 'it' isn't here."
With that, he abandoned his search. In a smooth, efficient movement, he turned and vaulted out the window, vanishing into the night.
The study fell silent once more.
"He almost found me…"
Even though Eryx had left, Alia's nerves remained taut. She knew this encounter was only the beginning.
"The General of the Second Army Group Eryx… Who are you? And why do your thief skills resemble my master's so closely?"
The questions churned in her mind, unanswered. Still, she knew she couldn't risk revealing her hand too soon. Until she uncovered his true identity and intentions, she would have to remain in the shadows, letting this dangerous game play out.
Alia continued to hold her breath, waiting in the darkness. She understood that against an opponent like Eryx, luck alone wasn't enough. His vigilance and cunning were impossible to predict. Perhaps his retreat was merely a ploy—a hunter masking his movements to catch his prey off guard when it let its guard down.
Time crawled by, the only sound the faint ticking of a clock mounted on the wall. Alia stayed motionless, ignoring the growing ache in her legs. She dared not move, fearing the slightest misstep could betray her position.
"Ten minutes. No movement."
She silently counted the passing seconds until she was sure Eryx was gone. Only then did she cautiously rise, stretching her stiff limbs. Her gaze swept over the study, searching for any traps or hidden dangers.
"No traps left behind. No ambush waiting…"
After confirming her safety, she approached the bookshelf and desk Eryx had rifled through. His touch had been so meticulous that even though he'd handled many books and documents, every item had been carefully replaced as if untouched. If Alia wasn't here, she wouldn't have noticed the subtle differences.
"He was searching for something…"
"The Holy Grail…"
Her brow furrowed as her expression darkened. Though she couldn't be certain of Eryx's true identity, she was convinced he shared a connection with her master. Their movements, habits, and methods bore an uncanny resemblance. If Eryx wasn't her master himself, then he must have undergone the same training.
Her final mission in her past life had been to steal the Holy Grail from this very castle on her master's orders. It was clear Eryx was also searching for the Grail. What remained unclear was whether he sought it for his own purposes or was acting under the same orders from their 'shared' master.
Alia carefully rearranged the items Eryx had disturbed, ensuring everything was returned to its proper place, leaving no trace of her own presence. While she lacked concrete evidence, her instincts told her this confrontation was far from over.
She walked toward the study door, quietly closed it behind her, and bent down to retrieve the coffee saucer she had thrown. Her movements were calm, but inside, her resolve had solidified.
"Whoever you are, I won't let you take it so easily." She murmured, a sharp glint in her eyes.
After tidying the study one last time, Alia cast a final glance at the tranquil room before slipping out. She knew the mysteries surrounding Eryx and the Holy Grail would inevitably pull her deeper into the storm. To outpace her adversary, she would have to be faster and more cunning than ever before.