Interlude: Liane

Liane had been stalking the idiot who had tried to muscle Trev. He didn’t know she saw it, but she saw everything, and no one would make a fool of her team like that.

She didn’t really have faith in the guild’s ability to punish him, and the fact he was sitting here in the guild hall drinking with his party right now did not bode well in their favour.

There was a temptation to deal with it herself—she could easily. She had already worked out what inn he was staying at, what room, and that he drank himself to sleep every night: the easiest of targets. But Hari had given her strict instructions when joining the party: no killing anyone unless they are a direct threat to the safety of the party.

She’d follow those rules for now, but if he made a single move against Trev, she’d know.

While she was watching him, there was a sudden shift as an incredibly powerful and angry aura flooded the guild hall. It was familiar, but also not; the anger and bloodlust in it were on a level she had never experienced in her entire life. It was pushing down on her very being to the point where even taking a breath was hard.

Everyone in the hall froze, with some of the weaker individuals falling to the ground, either passed out or close to it.

She looked around, trying to find the source, but almost everyone was crippled with fear and dread. A thought crossed her mind—was Trevor okay? He was upstairs cooking.

Just as she realised this might be Lily, the door to the staircase burst open as Hari and Milo ran into the room, looking around in horror.

Not seeing the need to hide anymore, she came out of stealth, appearing before them and getting noticed by Hari immediately.

Hari had to force the words out through gritted teeth. “Where is Trevor?”

She could barely talk, pointing upstairs and getting a nod. All three of them made their way towards the stairs, noticing both Joanne and Clive emerging from their offices and making eye contact with the three of them as they ran.

Upon reaching the third floor, it was unmistakable that this was the source. The aura shifted—it was difficult to put her finger on it, but it was anger, bloodlust… confusion, sorrow?

It had to be that. She didn’t know how she knew, but she’d bet her life it was sorrow she was feeling briefly.

Hari practically burst through the dining-room door, then likewise through the kitchen door, and stopped dead in his tracks.

She was not far behind, blinking past him and into the room to get a good view of the situation. What she saw made her heart drop. Trevor was on the floor—passed out? Or worse? She couldn’t tell. Above him was Lily, standing over his body and glaring at the three of them in turn. As the gaze landed on her, she felt her whole body freeze, as an ice-cold feeling flooded over her, like her very soul was being attacked.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

It was a pain she couldn’t even begin to describe, but it left as Lily’s gaze went back to Hari and Milo.

Next to Lily was Crisplet, flared up in a deep, volatile red. The heat was incredibly intense.

Did someone attack him?

“Lily, we want to help. What happened?” Liane tried to say, only getting a glare in response.

She was unable to speak while the glare persisted, but she heard Hari from beside her. “Lily, please—we can help him.”