"You think I was hiding?"
Wanora's voice was even, but her fingers twitched at her side.
"Maybe it doesn't matter," blue dress shrugged, the Jewel resting lazily in her palm. "Still, isn't it about time you stopped chasing after me?"
Wanora's blood boiled. Just looking at her was enough to set every nerve in her body alight.
"You killed my brother," she said, each word sharp as a blade. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"
Blue dress didn't flinch. "He was corrupted—"
"THERE WAS A WAY."
The words tore through the air, raw, furious.
Wanora took a step forward, rage shaking her voice. "There was a way. You just didn't want to wait. I begged you, yet you didn't listen. You think I'll let you off for that?"
Blue dress tilted her head, watching her. "Even if you don't, you do know it doesn't bother me, right?" Her lips curled slightly. "And if you do hate me, then try killing me. If you're strong enough, prove it."
The space between them seemed to shrink.
Wanora exhaled. "You're right. I will kill you."
A flash of light burst forth, concentrated into a blinding beam aimed straight for blue dress's eyes. It was a trick, a setup—because before the light even faded, Wanora was already moving, a blade slipping from her sleeve, slicing toward blue dress's throat.
A direct hit.
Or it should have been.
But despite her closed eyes, blue dress twisted away effortlessly, the knife cutting nothing but air.
Wanora's fingers snapped, the very air around her igniting. A single spark twisted, condensed—fire turning into something far more lethal.
A streak of plasma shot through the space between them, the beam white-hot, cutting through the remnants of the auction house like paper.
Yet before it could reach blue dress, it dissipated.
"You have gotten stronger, Wanora," blue dress mused. "But I don't think you understand—just because you've grown doesn't mean I haven't. And don't forget who taught you how to use it."
Wanora's fists clenched.
"Just because you can pull off something like plasma doesn't mean you're special. It isn't something you invented," blue dress continued. "You didn't learn it from me, sure. But I've done it too. The truth is, Wanora, in the grand scheme of things, you're not—"
"What? You'll kill me?" Wanora snapped, eyes burning.
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
The word was quiet. Deadly.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then the space between them exploded.
Sparks of flame erupted, fire twisting into waves of energy as both surged forward. A crackle of force as a bolt of lightning shot from Wanora's fingertips, its path jagged, hungry. Blue dress countered, the very air warping, her magic shifting into a shield of condensed pressure—light bending, refracting, warping like a mirage as she deflected the strike with ease.
Their magic clashed, the ground beneath them shaking, the room flickering with heat and raw energy.
An explosion.
The entire room was swallowed in smoke, thick and suffocating. Wanora instinctively activated Clarion of Vision—but the moment she did, it was shut off.
A clean hit slammed into her face.
The next second—blue dress was gone.
Wanora staggered, her hand covering her face, anger bubbling in her chest. She stomped the ground in frustration, her fingers twitching with the urge to burn something down—then exhaled sharply, forcing herself to calm.
The jewel was gone.
She had lost.
She turned, ready to leave. The authorities would be here soon—staying any longer was pointless.
Then, her eyes caught something.
Levinar.
Still unconscious.
Wanora clicked her tongue. If the authorities found him here, they would blame him for everything. He would be punished—severely.
With a sigh, she bent down, grabbing his arm. He was slightly shorter than her, his frame light enough that carrying him wasn't a problem. She hoisted him over her shoulder and stepped toward the exit.
The moment she stepped outside, her eyes swept across the scene.
Dead bodies.
Dozens of them, strewn across the ground.
And standing in the middle—still spotless, except for a few stray blood splatters—was Sinus.
"You didn't need to kill them," Wanora said, her voice even.
Sinus turned slightly, his expression unbothered. "Well, they were going to kill me. Call it self-defense."
Wanora didn't argue.
Instead, her gaze shifted toward the sky.
Dawn was breaking.
They had to move.
Without another word, the two climbed to the roof, navigating their way through the city's heights, slipping into the shadows before the authorities could catch them.
Once they reached the alleyways, Wanora finally set Levinar down, shaking him by the shoulder.
Slap.
"Hey. Wake up."
Levinar stirred, groaning slightly before his eyes fluttered open.
"W-where…? WHA—"
Wanora's fingers pressed against his lips.
"You were almost killed. Don't shout. If the authorities catch you, say goodbye to your freedom."
Levinar froze.
Wanora removed her hand. "I saved you. Consider this a debt and pay it off soon."
She got up without waiting for an answer.
Levinar sat there, rubbing his head. He glanced up at her before nodding slightly. He didn't say anything else.
Wanora and Sinus turned, leaving him alone in the corner of the alley.
The streets were beginning to wake. The scent of bread drifted through the air as the marketplace came to life.
Wanora and Sinus walked side by side, their pace unhurried now that they were out of danger.
"So," Wanora asked, "what about the woman who put up the task?"
Sinus sighed. "Well, I'll deal with it. She can't blame just me. She hired a bunch of people from syndicates and guilds—if things went to shit, that's on her, not me."
"Still, she might not pay us."
"Yeah. Maximum, she won't pay. No big deal."
The conversation drifted off as they reached the market district.
That's when Sinus spotted him.
"Hey. That's Heide, right?"
Wanora followed his gaze.
Heide was walking up to the Varson Emporium.
Wanora nodded. "I guess he finished the task."
Sinus whistled. "Sweet. 500 gold, huh?"
"He's more capable than you," Wanora smirked.
"…Bullshit. I just couldn't handle this one."
Wanora's smirk widened. "Well, wanna join Gars in finding lost cats?"
Sinus scoffed. "Hell no."