At this mont, within the silent stasis chamber, the last of the healing runes dimd, dissolving into harmless motes of abyssal light.
Ace, currently wearing the persona of Nomad, exhaled softly as if waking from a long slumber rather than from a deliberately moderated ’recovery’.
His eyelids fluttered open, revealing pupils still clouded with the artificial fog of soone who had only barely survived their ordeal. His breathing was uneven, shallow, not because he needed to fake it, but because appearances mattered.
Nomad, who was supposed to recover from the brink of death, had just recovered, so he made himself small, fragile, and still recovering his ntal state, or it would be too miraculous if he just walked out as if nothing had happened after battling with the Sin-corrupted Abyssal Beasts.
Furthermore, Ace had another reason to pretend like that as he pushed himself up on the stasis bed with a trembling arm, letting out a shaky breath as he murmured, "Hah... I can’t believe I survived, and it’s all because of her highness’s care!"
His voice cracked perfectly with subtle exhaustion, disorientation, and a touch of quiet gratitude; however, inside, Ace remained razor-focused.
’The Duchess is back. Mirage Shadow hasn’t left her post. Everything must be flawless!’ Ace thought with wariness because he could clearly see many monts on the Live Fate Map.
Furthermore, it had been three days since the mysterious ’Unlucky Boss’ had made its notorious, thievish debut. It had the entire Black Hermit City rember that na, especially within the city’s privileged and wealthy circles.
Moreover, Dread Duchess seed to have personally gone there to see for herself, which caused another wave of shock among the victims, who almost cried at her feet and demanded justice.
Nonetheless, Dread Duchess seed indifferent towards them, rely hearing their endless grievances, and so of them even expressed their backers’ harsh, firm attitude towards the thief, Unlucky Boss.
They were determined to capture this unscrupulous thief and make sure another tragedy like Bone rcenary City won’t repeat itself in the Obsidian Myriad Kingdom, and another Evil Venerable Angel won’t rise again.
However, this was to save so face because Black Hermit City was considered just a small-scale city within the colossal Abyssal Plains. If not for the Black Hermit Mines, those powers wouldn’t even bother to set up a branch in this city, not to ntion the presence of the Dread Duchess.
In the end, that power didn’t care about those losses because it boiled down to their reputation and credibility.
Dread Duchess was the sa as she couldn’t care less about the Black Hermit City, and if not for Nomad, she wouldn’t have arrived here, and found out about the ancient remnant.
But now it seed to have gone, and she personally confird it, which also made her fully believe Nomad’s story.
Now, the most pressing matter to the Duchess was the appearance of the hidden Cult of Undying Star within her territory, and who was this Unlucky Boss!
Moreover, with Unlucky Boss’s recent actions, she wasn’t sure whether this fellow was just a petty thief and in the wrong place at the wrong ti, or whether he had committed those thieveries like E.V.A. to cover up his true objective.
Ace had been secretly hearing the guards and servants gossiping among themselves within the castle, and he knew everything that had taken place within the city. He was pleased to have achieved his objective, but because of that, he was even more careful not to show any suspicious signs.
That’s why he was playing his part of the recovering Nomad with more care because he knew there were eyes on him.
At that mont, he reached for the edge of the bed before he suddenly froze because shadows behind him shifted like black water folding in on itself.
First, it was just a whisper of motion; a thin ripple across the wall before Mirage Shadow stepped out of his own silhouette. She materialized silently, her aura completely veiled, but her presence unmistakable.
If Ace had been Nomad, who had just recovered and was still slightly unstable, he would’ve jumped, and so he did.
He flinched, recoiling slightly, hand instinctively moving toward a nonexistent weapon.
"S-senior Mirage Shadow?!" He gasped, eyes widening with perfect imitation of shock before he sighed with relief and couldn’t help but complain, "You... you startled !"
Mirage Shadow remained stoic as her eerie appearance added a touch to her dreadful existence, and she stared at him from behind her abyssal hood, her presence like the cold of a grave.
When she finally spoke, her voice carried the chill of silent storms, "Forgive if I have startled you, Young Lord, and I’m very glad you’re safe and have recovered faster than projected."
"It wasn’t possible without your help, senior, and I won’t forget this favor." Ace pretended to be grateful because it was Mirage Shadow who had ’saved’ Nomad after all.
Mirage Shadow paused subtly as if assessing him, "I was rely completing the task that her highness had interested in and almost failed."
A hint of subtle resentnt surfaced in her tone, and Ace flinched as he felt a faint chill down his spine, ’Is she angry because I left her behind back there? I guess Dread Duchess must’ve reprimanded her...’
However, before Ace could explain, Mirage Shadow tone beca stoic again as she stated, "Anyhow, since you have recovered, it’s all that matters. Now, Her Highness has been waiting."
Ace was startled, knowing what that ant, but outside, he blinked, his gaze clouded with confusion. "Why is Her Highness waiting for ?"
Mirage Shadow didn’t answer because she didn’t think it was necessary as her shadow expanded beneath her feet, dark tendrils curling outward like welcoming arms.
She stepped closer under Nomad’s startled expression as she murmured, "Please stand, young lord; her highness does not appreciate delays."
Nomad swallowed visibly before he nodded, "I... understand."
He forced himself to his feet, wobbling slightly, as if the healing hadn’t thoroughly done its work, and a gloved hand caught his arm, steadying him.
A gesture so unexpected that Ace almost stiffened because Mirage Shadow didn’t see soone who would touch people unless ordered.
Her voice softened by a fraction, barely noticeable, yet unmistakable.
"You survived the mines," She said, tone low, "...now I hope you can survive what cos next!"
Ace was genuinely startled this ti because he had no idea what Mirage Shadow ant by those words, and before he could question her.
At this mont, Mirage Shadow’s shadow widened in a circular bloom beneath them, stretching like a curtain being pulled open to reveal an abyssal maw before the shadows swallowed them!
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