The clock on the wall began ticking again.
Hamira's statue-like expression shifted abruptly into one of pure surprise. Of course, she had every right to be puzzled and for her, not even a second had passed since her brother was beating Reibar to a pulp in a basin. Now, she was suddenly in the wooden confines of an inn room.
"Stop emitting that mana of yours at once!" Reibar's voice was sharp, laced with lingering anger. Though his instincts screamed at him to end her for all the trouble she'd caused, Lucien's words tempered his fury.
It was an order. She obeyed immediately.
"What just happened...? Was this the doing of the sorcerer he called 'Father'?" Hamira wondered, her mind racing.
"From now on, you will not attempt to escape from me. Nor will you do anything that might make someone like that sorcerer find us," Reibar declared firmly, his voice colder than usual.
"I'm screwed... Is he going to kill me now?" Hamira's thoughts spiraled into dread.
"No, I won't kill you. Nor will I torment you like that anymore," Reibar replied as if plucking the very thoughts from her mind.
He sank into the chair Lucien had been lecturing him from moments ago and gestured toward the bed. "Sit."
Cautiously, Hamira obeyed, her movements slow and deliberate.
"Look... I'm sorry," Reibar began, his tone softening. "I understand you've had a strong urge to escape from me, and I know I've tormented you in the past... but you're free now. Well... not entirely free," he added quickly, scratching the back of his head. "I just don't want you going back to the demons."
Hamira blinked, her confusion deepening as he continued.
"You can talk freely, ask me anything, go around the city—do whatever you want. I won't force you to do anything."
She stared at him, still struggling to process what had transpired in mere moments. Not only were his injuries completely gone, but Reibar's entire attitude also seemed to have shifted.
"I won't make you do anything inhumane, like the orders you were forced to carry out in the demon army," he said, his voice steady but tinged with regret. "You can consider yourself my partner and travelling companion."
"...Partner?" Hamira repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
Yes, it was true—Reibar wasn't lying to her. He knew that everything she had done in Willowfield had been on the orders of the higher-ups in the demon army. Any demon in her place would have done the same.
It wasn't her who had betrayed him and his party—it was Lisanna causing the deaths of Eric and milio. Even so, the deaths of Gareth and Eldrin lingered in Reibar's heart like an unhealed wound. But despite the weight of their loss, Hamira was the only one he could trust right now, bound as she was by his seal.
"I'm sorry, Gareth. Sorry, old man Eldrin..." Reibar silently apologized to his fallen comrades. "But I need her help."
Maybe it was because he was not that much attached to those two... but now taking advice from Lucien he accepted her.
It was something that will take time.
Reibar explained to Hamira that they were now in the capital. He chose not to mention Lucien—it would only complicate things—so he simply attributed the sudden teleportation to his father's power.
Hamira couldn't hide her amazement at this mysterious "father" of his. Not only had he transported them hundreds of miles away, but he had done so without her even noticing the telltale signs of forced teleportation. This was nothing short of astonishing.
Of course, she didn't fully trust Reibar or his explanation. But what choice did she have?
In truth, this situation wasn't all that different from her experience in the demon army. Orders were orders, and she had learned firsthand what happened to those who dared to disobey the higher-ups. The scars left by those lessons were etched deep into her memory.
But now, Reibar was telling her that he wouldn't force her to follow him, wouldn't torment her, and wouldn't compel her to do his bidding. It was something she had never heard before—something completely new and unfamiliar.
She stared at him, puzzled and unsure. Sensing her hesitation, Reibar stepped closer. He raised a hand toward the golden ring of slavery that bound her, its faint glow reflecting the dim light of the room. With a focused thought, he removed its ability to inflict agony or allow him to harm her.
The ring remained intact—it still prevented her from betraying, lying to, or harming him—but its cruelest feature was gone.
"Look," he said gently, his voice soft. "I've disabled its torture capability. Maybe now you can trust me... even just a little."
Hamira blinked, her eyes narrowing as she concentrated. It was true—she could feel it. That oppressive presence, that lingering sense of inevitable pain, had vanished. He couldn't torment her anymore.
But why?
Why would he do this?
Sensing the awkwardness between them, Reibar decided to change the subject. He showed her the dimensional ring Lucien had given him, thinking, She's going to see it eventually if we're traveling together.
Dimensional rings were a luxury—something only the absurdly wealthy could afford, given the exorbitant cost of enchanted materials. Even in the demon army, Hamira had rarely seen such treasures. That Reibar, a human, possessed one was both surprising and strangely impressive.
Perhaps this small show of transparency could help build some trust between them. Maybe.
Reibar then ordered food from the inn. It was a fairly luxurious place—not quite as opulent as the one in Marrowfield, but still more than adequate.
And food, as always, had a way of lightening the mood.
After their meal, Reibar asked her, "Would you like to take a stroll in the town?" His tone was polite—something Hamira wasn't used to.
It wasn't an order, and that alone was surprising. Most of her life had been spent following commands, without the luxury of choice.
Does he really mean it? ... partners ? she wondered, the word feeling foreign and strange.
"Yeah, I'll come along," she replied, her voice steady, though her thoughts churned with doubt and curiosity.