Her silver eyelids fluttered open as she blinked weakly against the light.
"Urg… what happened… where am I?"
Raising her arm to shield her eyes, she blinked away the lingering haze, only for her eyes to widen suddenly as her mory returned.
"Ah! That Redfla bastard!"
"Lyra."
Zair's firm hand gripped her shoulder before she could leap to her feet, and she instantly relaxed at the sight of him.
"…Brother? Ah, thank the stars. Looks like you saved . I'm so—"
"No."
"…Huh?"
She blinked in confusion.
Zair didn't answer imdiately, instead casting a sidelong glance toward the white haired man standing quietly behind him.
"He did."
"…!"
Lyra's eyes widened the mont she saw Atticus, but her shock quickly twisted into anger.
"It's you! The scamr!"
She sprang to her feet, not bothering to dust off her clothes as she pointed accusingly at Atticus.
"I told you I'd give you a piece of my mind the next ti I saw you! You—"
"Lyra!"
Zair grabbed her arm and pulled her back sharply, causing her to turn toward him with confusion written across her face.
"…Brother…?"
Zair let out a heavy sigh, as though weighed down by sothing. Seeing him react that way, a faint sense of unease crept into Lyra's chest, and she swallowed quietly.
"What's going on?"
Zair hesitated briefly before explaining everything to her, and by the ti he finished, Lyra had begun pacing back and forth across the forest floor, biting her nails anxiously.
"No other choice?! You're always telling to be careful, telling not to do reckless things, and now you go and do sothing like this?! How could you agree to that?!"
"…There was no other way."
Zair lowered his gaze with a helpless expression. Lyra softened slightly at the sight, but the fierceness in her eyes did not fade.
"…He's a stranger, brother. Becoming soone's slave is—"
"The both of you."
The siblings froze, then turned toward Atticus at the sa ti.
He stood there, watching them with a blank, indifferent gaze.
"…What?"
"…Both of you will serve . Not just him."
Atticus spoke plainly, as though the matter carried no significance.
"…You…"
Lyra gazed at him, stunned.
"…Lyra… please."
"But we don't even know who he is!"
She locked eyes with Atticus.
"What happens if I refuse?"
"I'll kill both of you."
"…"
"…"
The siblings exchanged a brief glance, then swallowed.
'Is this the kind of person he is?'
Zair curled his fists. It seed he had truly made a mistake.
"Lyra…"
"Alright. I'll do it."
Zair was caught off guard by her sudden response.
"Huh?"
"I said I'll do it."
"…are you sure?"
"There's no other choice."
Lyra stepped forward and spread her arms slightly, as though to say, take
"…"
Atticus watched her for any sign of hesitation or deceit, but found none. The only thing that stood out was the faint redness on her ears and cheeks.
'She's blushing?'
He had just threatened to kill them both. What kind of sane person would blush in this situation? Finding nothing suspicious, Atticus extended his will and allowed it to engulfed her completely before branding her in the next instant.
"So… what next, master."
Lyra blinked up at him innocently, as though nothing had changed.
"…"
Atticus was unsure of what to make of her reaction. Zair, standing behind her, did not seem to notice anything unusual, and was also staring at him with a tense expression. "…We go hunting."
Without waiting for a response, Atticus turned and began moving, and a mont later, the three of them beca blurs weaving through the forest.
Even as they ran, Atticus could feel their eyes on him. The siblings were observing him carefully, trying to understand him. But they were not the only ones watching.
'She's keeping up.'
Though it wasn't his full speed, it ca as a mild surprise that Lyra was maintaining his pace. He could feel the distinct flow of multiple energies circulating through her body, working together to reinforce her speed.
'She's resourceful.'
In truth, Atticus was far more interested in the girl than the brother. His decision to enslave the siblings had originated from his desire to subordinate her.
'Her power can be useful.'
The significance of being able to combine energies could not be overstated. Solvath's fragnts were powerful precisely because of their capacity to disharmonize and harmonize wills. Possessing even a lesser version of that capability was invaluable, sothing that could only be described as a godsend.
Atticus shifted his focus forward.
'It's ti to make my ssage louder.'
Atticus was not soone who sought attention. He preferred to kill silently and efficiently, without drawing unnecessary attention.
That was why his earlier declaration to the Redfla had never been reckless, but deliberate.
The fastest way to ascend the planes was to kill gods and absorb their worlds, and Atticus had chosen to accomplish two objectives at once.
By openly insulting a major faction, he had given them no choice but to respond. Since their pride wouldn't allow it, they would definitely seek to punish him for his arrogance and restore their dignity.
All Atticus needed to do was wait, and they would flock to him.
'They're here.'
His eyes narrowed slightly as he felt multiple presences converging on his location.
"Enemies… a lot of them."
Zair instantly looked toward him with a serious expression, and even Lyra's face grew tense as she sensed it as well.
"Try and keep up."
Atticus gripped the hilt of his katana, and in the next instant, he was gone.
"…!"
The siblings' eyes widened in shock at the sudden burst of speed, but they weren't given even a mont to react.
"What—!"
"Who—ahh!"
"An attac—!"
Screams erupted from all directions as a streak of silver swept through the forest, faster than their eyes could follow.
Everything occurred swiftly. The screams that had erupted in panic began to fade one by one, until silence slowly reclaid the forest.
The siblings ca to an abrupt stop then, their breathing uneven as their trembling eyes fixed on the white haired figure calmly erging from the depths of the trees.
Atticus flicked the blood from his blade with a single smooth motion, his ocean blue eyes settling on them with quiet indifference.
The siblings exchanged a sidelong glance before swallowing.
What exactly had they subordinated themselves to?
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