Ignoring his warning to me earlier, I got off of the carriage with Kuro following behind me. Ah, that’s right. Kuro had finally woken up! Although strangely, he’s not as big as before, I could sense that he’s growing just fine. Not physically, but spiritually. He’s as energetic as usual though and would constantly stick to my side. And I know sooner or later, he would go back to his usual self and recover his state. I’m looking forward to that.

Anyway, I first checked the second carriage where my maids are staying and saw that it was completely intact. The doors and windows are tightly closed so I’m guessing they are probably inside, scared as hell. I mean, who wouldn’t?

Lukas immediately turned his head towards me even before I could reach him and his already gloomy aura darkened even more upon seeing me coming.

“What did I tell you?” He uttered lowly, a dangerous hint in his tone.

“I don’t sense them anymore so I’m guessing it’s safe,” I reasoned out.

One thing that I have learned is that I have this ability to sense a life— or lives for that matter. I could distinguish between people, animals, or other living things. And I could also differentiate which are normal to not. When I said normal, I meant those people I know or are just average people in general. The not normal are those that give me some weird vibes just like those fake magicians do.

It’s a surreal feeling. Like being able to tell a heartbeat and a pulse even without seeing them with my eyes. I just feel it…

It’s a really useful skill because I could easily warn them whenever I notice the magicians’ presence. For a moment, I thought I’m special that way but turns out, Lukas also has this perception. And his is much stronger.

“Tch, you don’t listen, do you?” He frowned, clicking his tongue in displeasure.

I naturally ignored him again and stared overhead towards the forest.

“Are they gone?”

I couldn’t sense them anymore so I was just confirming it from him. 

“…”

Silence means yes.

“As soon as I came out, those fvckers ran away,” Lukas scoffed, looking very much disappointed.

Was he bummed because he is not able to unleash hell upon those people? Could be. Sometimes I wonder if he’s just doing this so he could, you know, wreak havoc and kill some bad guys. He’s basically a hotblooded person and only by taking lives on the battlefield is his only amusement.

Now that we’re on it, I should be fearing this guy… He is such a piece of bad news. He’s trouble, period.

“You scared them off,” I remarked.

“They won’t be able to next time,” he scorned. His eyes then squinted off to the distance as if he was debating whether he was going to sprint off and hunt them down.

“Ohh. But this is already the fourth— Ahem.” I didn’t finish my words after looking at his bad expression. He’s really pissed.

Those conquisitors had returned just as we feared and they had been on the move these past weeks. They don’t choose when and where and would just come out of nowhere. Either on my way to the capital, which now I am banned from doing so because of that one instance where the civilians almost got involved in the crossfire— or when I was just chilling at my own freaking home. The security has tightened even more to the point that it’s hard for me to go out anymore. And as much as I don’t want to, some lives have been taken from those attacks.

It pains me whenever I hear someone dies just to ensure my safety. Many times I would just wish to leave the mansion and go in hiding somewhere so no more people would die because of me. But wouldn’t it be the same as their other victims? Forever in hiding from them? It really leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and my hate towards the conquisitors continued to flourish. 

We are on the way to the palace where I would stay for the time being as the emperor suggested when the fourth attack happened, delaying our trip. Saying that I’m used to it is a lie because I would never get accustomed to this kind of life and I don’t want to. I still get scared but having Lukas and my brother at my side alleviates that fear. They always make sure I’m safe and free from any harm. Heck, during these times, not even a single strand of my hair was marred.

But it doesn’t mean the others with us are lucky. 

What’s even frustrating is that they are always able to get away all the damn time. It’s like they are trying to tease us. I feel like they do because whenever Lukas is about to go after them, they disappear right away. Plus they aren’t specifically targeting me. They aren’t as fierce and persistent to get me as before but more like testing us or something. I wasn’t sure whether my intuition is right but I think Lukas and the others have also figured that out. 

Those people are deliberately riling us up as if mocking us.

It’s so annoying!

“Let them try again and I’ll burn them to ashes before they could even blink,” Lukas enunciated, bristling with irritation.

A man with long braided ashy hair appeared, and I recall that his name is Ylmer. He whispered something to Lukas whose purple eyes sparked contempt again.

He looked at me, so icy it brought chills up my spine.

“Stay here.”

“O-Okay…” 

He then left to who knows where, leaving both Ylmer and me standing at the side. Looks like Ylmer was ordered to look after me.

I wonder why he got mad, though?

Looking around, I could finally see the extent of the situation. Some knights were injured and were being attended to the side while the others made sure to secure the perimeter.. My mood suddenly turned glum after seeing them and without thinking, I approached the injured men filled with guilt and remorse.