The Last Step Chapter 47: The One in Control

Celia's Perspective:

As I lifted my head and finally got a proper look at the person standing in front of ... I was speechless.

What in the world am I even looking at?

This guy—who I had foolishly mistaken for Kai—was so weirdly dressed man wrapped in bandages, wearing an overcoat and a silly white shirt. Or, at least, I think it was a shirt. Half his face and even one of his eyes were covered in bandages, and with his ssy black hair and black eyes, he looked like he'd either walked out of so tragic war... or a really bad fashion disaster.

So much for expecting Kai. Instead, I get this random person who looks absolutely nothing like him.

The man was walking along the dirt path, heading toward Levinton with his finger on his chin, like he was lost in thought. He seed like one of those guys who'd narrate sothing overly deep for no reason. "The path ahead is unknown... but alas, I walk." That kind of person.

Then, as if realizing my presence, he glanced at . And stared.

I stared back.

He kept staring.

Okay... weird. Who even is this random bandage-wrapped wanderer, and why is he staring at like I'm a rare collectible? I an, sure, I'm adorable, but that's beside the point.

Before I could call him out, he suddenly spoke.

"Excuse , this is the path towards Levinton, correct?"

I blinked. Wait, hold on. He talked to ? That was new. Usually, people avoided like I carried the plague. I am the 'cursed' girl, after all—the one people whisper about in fear. But this guy? He just asked for directions like I was so normal person.

For a second, I didn't even know how to react. But, recovering quickly, I nodded and pointed toward the path.

"Yep, that way," I said.

"Ah, got it." He nodded in thanks, but just as I thought he'd move along, he gave another look and added, "You know, little girls like you shouldn't be alone near the forest."

...

Little girl?

LITTLE GIRL?

DO I LOOK LIKE A LITTLE GIRL?!

Excuse , but who does this wrapped-up stranger think he is?! I am not a little girl! I an, sure, maybe I'm a bit smaller than average. Maybe I have a cute face. Maybe I—wait, that's not the point!

I clenched my fist and puffed out my cheeks, feeling personally attacked. "I'm not a little girl!" I huffed.

The man raised his hands in surrender, acting as if I was about to throw hands. (Which, let's be honest, was tempting.) "My bad," he said, "Sorry, you must be a lost child, then."

...

Oh, oh, it's war now.

"Lost child?! Do I look lost to you?!" I snapped, throwing my arms up.

"Well, yeah. You're standing in the middle of nowhere, looking confused."

"I was thinking! That doesn't an I'm lost!"

"Thinking? Huh. Must've been tough."

I gasped. Did he just—

"I'll have you know, my thoughts are very deep and important!"

"Oh? Like what?" He crossed his arms, giving a smug look.

"Like how annoying people wrapped in bandages should just mind their own business."

"Ouch. I felt that." He placed a hand over his chest like I'd wounded him. "But it's okay, I forgive you. Kids say an things sotis."

Oh. Ohhh.

I squinted at him. "Okay, listen here, mummy-man—"

"Wow, mummy-man? That's original."

"Look, I don't know who you are, but I am not a child!"

He gave a once-over, then raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. Sure. And I'm the king of Levinton, they call Emperor around here.."

"Oh wow, then why don't you walk into town and claim your throne, Your Highness?"

"Can't. I'm too busy being a mysterious traveler with a tragic backstory."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh please, you look less like a tragic hero and more like soone who lost a fight with a roll of bandages."

He let out a laugh at that, and to my complete surprise, I found myself smiling. He was annoying—really annoying—but... kind of fun to talk to? Like an older friend who pokes fun at you just to see you get mad.

Still, I couldn't let him win.

I crossed my arms, giving him a smug smirk. "So, mummy-man, got a na?"

He humd, acting like he was thinking about it. "I might."

"And?"

"Not telling you."

I narrowed my eyes. "Then I'm just going to keep calling you mummy-man."

He shrugged. "Fine by , lost child."

I let out a dramatic sigh. "Why do I always et the weird ones?"

He chuckled. "Fate, probably."

I stuck my tongue out at him.

And for so reason... I found myself laughing.

As he waved, a smirk tugging at his lips, he said, "Anyways, lost child, take care and be safe."

I scoffed, puffing out my cheeks in protest. "I told you, I'm not a lost child! But whatever, mummy-man, don't go tripping over your own bandages on the way." I crossed my arms, shooting him a playful glare.

He chuckled, shaking his head as he turned away, walking down the path toward Levinton.

I let out a small huff before dropping onto the grass, letting the cool earth press against my back. The sky above stretched endlessly, soft clouds lazily drifting by. A breeze ran through my hair, and for once, I felt... light.

Then—his voice carried through the air, smooth and amused.

"The na's Aldric. Just that for you."

I blinked, turning my head slightly, watching as he walked further away, his bandaged figure blending into the road ahead.

A na.

He told his na.

A small, faint smile crept onto my lips.

It was... nice. Talking to soone. Actually having a conversation where I wasn't t with fear, disgust, or people just flat-out ignoring my existence. It wasn't much, but it was sothing. A rare little mont where, even for just a few minutes, I felt like a normal girl.

And honestly? That was kind of a big deal.

Maybe today wasn't so bad after all.

"Hmph." I puffed up my cheeks, crossing my arms as I lay flat on the grass, staring at the sky like it had all the answers to my problems. "I really thought it was Kai... but nope, just so bandaged weirdo. What kind of scam is this?"

I kicked my legs up slightly, then let them flop back down, dramatically sighing. "One second I was excited, thinking, 'Oh wow! Kai's here to see !' and the next? Boom. So half-mummy, half-sarcastic disaster with an overcoat." I rolled onto my stomach, burying my face into the grass. "I need a refund on my expectations."

I dramatically threw my arms out, lying spread-eagle on the grass. "First, I mistook a bandaged cryptid for my Kai. Next thing you know, I'll be calling trees 'handso' and falling in love with a particularly well-dressed rocks."

I squinted at a nearby rock. "...No. No, we are not starting that."

I groaned into the grass again, voice muffled. "I need a reboot... and a cookie. Definitely a cookie."

I lay there, face smushed into the grass, fully ready to let the earth reclaim . "This is nice. Maybe I'll just stay here forever. Beco one with nature. Let the wind take . A leaf girl. A forest spirit."

Then it hit .

Like a brutal slap of reality straight to the face.

My routine.

My stamina training.

My fifteen-kiloter run.

"...Oh no."

I slowly lifted my head, dread washing over . "I still have to run. And then practice combat." My voice was hollow, like I had just rembered my own execution date.

I sighed, flopping back onto the grass in defeat. "Why did I make my routine so strict? Why couldn't I have picked sothing easier, like... I don't know, napping? Competitive snacking?"

I kicked my legs a little, internally screaming. "No, Celia. You promised yourself you'd get stronger. You vowed to be more like Kai. No excuses."

I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with the crisp air, then exhaled with a long, dramatic groan.

"Alright, fine, FINE. I'll do it. But if I collapse midway through my run, I'm blaming Aldric. For existing. And for not being Kai."

With that, I dragged myself off the ground, pouting the entire ti.

It was ti to run once again.

While Celia was running and pushing herself to improve, Zain had no luxury of rest. The grotesque situation was only worsening, and now he had another concern—Xander.

Zain's Perspective:

I crossed my arms, staring down at the ss of a human sprawled across my bed. Xander had sohow managed to take up the entire thing—arms spread, one leg dangling off the side, and the blanket barely covering him. His sword, carelessly tossed on the floor, was dangerously close to my foot. The guy was a Sword Saint, yet here he was, looking like he had fought the battle of the century just to turn over in his sleep.

"Xander," I said, my tone firm. "Get up."

His response? A lazy groan followed by a half-hearted attempt to roll over—except he didn't roll. He just flopped onto his side like a dead fish.

"Ten more minutes..." he mumbled, burying his face deeper into the pillow.

I exhaled sharply. "No. We have a guild eting. Get up."

"Mm. That sounds... really exhausting." His voice was muffled, barely audible. "Just tell the mbers I died in my sleep or sothing... They'll understand."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Xander."

"Ugh, fine." He lifted a hand, waving it dismissively. "Go on, start the eting without . Spiritually, I'll be there."

I grabbed his arm and started pulling. Nothing. It was like trying to move a boulder.

"Why are you so heavy?" I grumbled, yanking harder.

"Muscle density," he replied lazily. "Cos with being a Sword Saint. Can't help it."

"Then move your 'dense' ass off my bed."

"Nah."

I let go of his arm, only to grab his leg and try pulling him that way. His response? He stretched his arms above his head, yawned, and sank even deeper into the mattress.

"You're doing this on purpose," I accused.

"Maybe," he said, smirking slightly.

This guy...

Fine. If force wouldn't work, I'd have to change tactics. I released his leg and stood straight, pretending to consider sothing. Then, in my most casual tone, I said, "Alright, I'll just eat that limited edition celestial peach tart I brought in yesterday. Thought maybe you'd want a slice, but—"

Xander sat up so fast I almost stepped back. His half-lidded, uninterested eyes were now sharp with suspicion. "...You're lying."

I raised an eyebrow. "Am I?"

He stared at , trying to read my expression. A second passed. Then another.

"...Tch." He swung his legs off the bed, rubbing his eyes like a child who had been forced to wake up before noon. "If I find out you were bluffing, I'm sleeping on your bed for the next three days."

"You already did that," I muttered.

Xander stretched, cracking his neck. "Yeah, but I'll make it worse. I'll sleep diagonally."

I clenched my fists. "You're a nace."

"And you just bribed with food," he shot back, finally standing. "Who's the real villain here?"

I sighed. "Just get dressed, Xander."

"Yeah, yeah..." He grabbed his sword off the floor, yawning again. "But seriously, I better see that peach tart when we get there. Otherwise, I'm taking your bed permanently."

I had made a deal with the laziest devil.

I sighed as I pulled open my wardrobe, staring at the neatly folded clothes inside. My room—hell, my whole house—used to be a place of order, discipline, and, most importantly, peace. But the past two days? Chaos. Absolute, unbearable chaos.

And it was all thanks to him.

I cast a quick glance at my bed, where Xander was still sitting, rubbing his eyes like he had just experienced the most exhausting event of his life—waking up. He stretched, yawned, and scratched his head lazily before flopping back onto the mattress.

This man... is supposed to be a Sword Saint? How?

I shook my head and grabbed a dark shirt from the wardrobe, slipping it on. As I adjusted the fabric, my fingers brushed against a scar on my chest—an old wound from a ti when my life actually had structure. A ti before I had a roommate who thought 'our ho' was an acceptable term when referring to my house.

Two days ago, Levi had left for Sylvaris, which was fine. He was the guild leader; he had things to take care of. But before leaving, he had written a letter to Xander, summoning him to help with the grotesques situation. That was a great idea. Really, it was. Except... instead of going to the guild like a normal person, Xander found and decided my ho was the better option.

As a responsible representative of Celestial Apex, I figured I'd be courteous. That was my first mistake.

Because within a single day, Xander had—

- Rearranged my entire furniture setup just to "find the best angle for napping."

- Claid my favorite chair as his throne and refused to move from it unless bribed with food.

- Sohow managed to eat an entire week's worth of rations, all while complaining about how much effort eating required.

- Started calling my house our house, as if this was so sort of joint living arrangent.

That last one really got to .

"This is not 'our ho,'" I had told him yesterday.

"You sure?" he had replied, tilting his head. "Because, like... I live here now. Feels like it."

"You do not live here."

"Well, I sleep here. Eat here. Breathe here." He had smirked. "That's kinda like living, don't you think?"

I had never felt such a strong urge to throw soone out a window in my life.

Sighing, I grabbed my coat and slid it over my shoulders, straightening it before adjusting the cuffs. I shot another glance at my bed. Xander had finally stood up, though his posture was as relaxed as ever.

He was wearing a loose, wrinkled tunic—half-buttoned, because of course it was—and a pair of pants that looked like he barely put in the effort to tie them properly. His hair? A complete ss. His sword? Hanging from his belt at an awkward angle, like he hadn't even tried to fasten it right.

I rubbed my temples. "You look like you just lost a battle against basic hygiene."

Xander blinked. "Nah, I just didn't feel like winning."

My eye twitched. Why am I dealing with this?

Oh, right. Levi.

That bastard had gone missing for two days now, not even bothering to reply to my ssages. He was the reason I was stuck handling this disaster of a human being.

I sighed again, buttoning my coat as my thoughts drifted back to when I first t Xander.

It had been near the edges of Levinton. A grotesque had been lurking around, ready to tear apart whatever unfortunate soul crossed its path. I had barely drawn my sword before Xander moved—swift, effortless, almost lazy in his motions.

But his blade work? Masterful. No wasted energy, no hesitation. He cut down the grotesque in minutes, his expression barely shifting, as if he had just swatted away an annoying fly.

I had been shocked, to say the least. Soone with that level of skill... and this level of laziness?

It still didn't make sense.

Does he even exist? Like, actually?

Before I could lose more brain cells thinking about it, Xander stretched again, letting out another long, exaggerated yawn. "Alright, alright. Let's get this over with," he said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "The faster we go, the faster I can get back to my nap."

I stared at him. "That's not how this works."

"Sure it is." He strolled toward the door, waving lazily over his shoulder. "Co on, roomie, let's get moving."

I clenched my jaw. "For the last ti. This is not our ho."

"Yeah, yeah, let's discuss it later. You still owe that peach tart, by the way."

I took a deep breath. This was going to be a long day.

As we stepped out of the house, I took a deep breath of the fresh morning air, hoping it would cleanse my soul of the absolute nonsense I had been dealing with for the past two days.

Xander, on the other hand, stretched his arms over his head, letting out a yawn so dramatic I thought he might just fall back asleep mid-step.

"You know," he mumbled, rubbing his neck, "waking up before noon should be illegal."

I side-eyed him. "You woke up at eleven-thirty."

"And? That's still too early."

I sighed, already regretting this walk.

Levinton was alive as usual, the streets bustling with rchants setting up their stalls, adventurers boasting about their latest hunts, and kids running around with wooden swords, dreaming of becoming the next great adventurer. The scent of fresh-baked bread from the bakeries mixed with the not-so-pleasant aroma of a nearby stable, creating a unique morning experience.

Xander lazily took in the sights, hands still stuffed in his pockets. "Man... I forgot how much effort walking is. Can't we just take a carriage?"

I scoffed. "You've been living in my house for two days. You haven't spent a single coin. You paying for the carriage?"

He let out a thoughtful hum. "I an... you're the responsible one. Doesn't that an you should pay?"

I stopped in my tracks, turning to stare at him. "I should pay?"

Xander shrugged. "Think of it as compensation. I've been suffering under your strict household rules, after all."

"Strict?" My eye twitched. "The only rule I gave you was to clean up after yourself."

"And I did. Eventually."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "No, you shoved all the ss under my bed and called it 'storage.'"

He smirked. "Worked, didn't it?"

I exhaled through gritted teeth and kept walking. He followed at his own lazy pace, eyes scanning the town like he was sightseeing.

"Levinton hasn't changed much," he mused. "Still got that charming, rustic look. Cozy, in a might-get-stabbed-in-an-alley kind of way."

I sighed. "It's not that bad."

"Uh-huh. Tell that to the guy over there selling mystery at at half price. Why is it glowing?"

I followed his gaze and imdiately decided I didn't need to know.

We passed by a few adventurers clad in mismatched armor, arguing over a quest poster pinned to the town board.

"Slay five grotesques near the southern forest—reward: twenty silver?" Xander read aloud. "Huh. That's a ripoff. One grotesque should be worth at least fifty."

"Not everyone gets to be a Sword Saint, Xander."

"Yeah, yeah. Tragic." He yawned. "Speaking of grotesques, how bad is it? Levi called here for them, but I never actually asked for details."

I frowned. "We've been getting more reports of grotesque sightings near the town's outskirts. It's not just strays anymore—it's like sothing is pushing them closer."

"Huh." He blinked. "Sounds bad."

"It is bad."

"...Still doesn't explain why you needed here, though."

I shot him a glare. "Because you're a Sword Saint, Xander."

"Yeah, but did Levi really think I'd jump out of bed for this?"

I gritted my teeth. "You didn't jump out of bed. I had to drag you out."

"Semantics," he waved off, as if I was the one being unreasonable.

By the ti we reached the guildhall, I was already exhausted—and not because of the walk. I was used to Xander's nonsense, but dealing with it was another thing entirely.

Then, I noticed the group of guild mbers standing outside, their faces pale with panic.

"That," Xander muttered, tilting his head, "doesn't look promising."

I straightened my coat, already bracing myself for whatever ss was waiting for us. "Fantastic."

The mont we stepped up to the guildhall, a small group of guild mbers turned to face , their expressions tense. I could already tell sothing was wrong before any of them spoke.

"Leader Zain," one of them started, giving a quick salute before flicking his gaze towards Xander, hesitating slightly. "We've been hearing strange fighting noises near the forest. It's been happening for the past few evenings, always around this ti. It's loud—like a battle is going on, but no one's ever seen anything when we check. We thought it was just animals at first, but now... it's too consistent."

I frowned, arms crossing. "And no one's been able to find the source?"

The guild mber shook his head. "Every ti we head out, it's already stopped by the ti we get close. But it's been getting louder. We think sothing's out there."

I turned to glance at Xander, who, despite being a Sword Saint, looked more like a man who had just been told he had to walk a whole mile for food. His shoulders slumped slightly, hands still lazily stuffed in his pockets.

"Sounds like a you problem," he muttered.

Before I could even respond, another guild mber jogged out from the guild building, stopping just before , slightly out of breath.

"Zain! There's soone inside waiting for you—says they have information on the grotesques."

I rubbed my temple. Great. Two issues at the sa ti.

I had a choice here. The fighting noises near the forest could be important—if sothing was drawing grotesques closer, or worse, fighting them before disappearing, I needed to know why. But this visitor... grotesque-related intel wasn't sothing I could ignore either. The fact that they ca here instead of reporting it through normal channels ant it was either urgent, sensitive, or both.

If I left the noises unchecked, we might lose the chance to find out what's causing them. But if I ignored the visitor, I'd risk missing valuable information that could help us prepare.

I clicked my tongue. Either way, I needed to split the workload.

My eyes naturally drifted to Xander.

He yawned, scratching the back of his head. "So... what's the move?"

I already knew what he'd say if I asked him to go check the noises. So half-asleep excuse, a complaint about how troubleso it was.

So I went with the only thing that had worked so far.

"Xander," I said, keeping my voice level, "if you go with the guild mbers to check it out, I'll make sure you get the best steak Levinton has to offer. Extra portions."

For the first ti since waking up, his eyes actually showed a flicker of life. "...You're serious?"

"As serious as I was when I had to drag you out of bed."

Xander exhaled through his nose, stretching his arms. "Man... you really know my weaknesses, huh?"

"It's not that hard," I deadpanned. "You only care about sleep and food."

"Hey, that's not true," he defended lazily. "I also care about... uh... wait, don't rush —"

I gave him a flat stare.

"...Alright, fine. But if this turns out to be nothing, I'm making you pay for dessert too."

"Deal," I said instantly, wanting to lock it in before he could change his mind.

Xander sighed and turned toward the waiting guild mbers, who all looked slightly hesitant. It was clear they were nervous. After all, Xander wasn't just any swordsman—he was the Sword Saint of Mastery. People talked about him like he was a mythical being, a prodigy among prodigies. Standing in his presence, even while he was acting like a lazy bum, made them visibly unsure of how to treat him.

"Uh... we appreciate your help, Sir Xander," one of them said cautiously.

Xander waved them off. "Yeah, yeah. Just lead the way before I change my mind."

They nodded quickly, still a little awkward. Then, they turned toward the forest, leading him off.

I exhaled, shaking my head before stepping into the guildhall to et this so-called visitor.

Levi, you owe for this.

Xander's Perspective:

I should've just stayed in bed. Seriously, I've been living my life fine, just chilling, and then Zain had to go and make things difficult.

Ugh, Zain, you know I hate moving for nothing. What's the point? I'm not going to be the hero here, and last I checked, nothing's on fire or exploding. If it's really that important, soone else can take care of it.

But then... the extra steak.

That was it. He knew exactly how to bribe —just one extra portion of steak and I'm suddenly the one walking to the woods like I'm on so noble quest. As if I'm going to pass up a full al just because it's inconvenient.

I bet it's so random monster or animal making noise. Honestly, if I could just sleep through the whole thing and let soone else handle it, I would. But... steak.

I stretch out a bit, not really feeling the need to rush. The guild mbers trailing behind seem uneasy, which honestly doesn't surprise . I can practically feel their nerves crawling in the air. It's like they're expecting to do sothing big, sothing heroic. But all I'm here for is the steak, and maybe a good nap after.

One of the mbers, a younger guy with his eyes darting around, tries to speak up but stumbles over his words. "Uh... X-Xander, about the noise... you heard it, right?" His voice cracks, and he swallows nervously. He's probably more nervous being around a Sword Saint than the noise itself.

I sigh and give him a half-hearted look. "Yeah, I heard it. What's the big deal? I'm here now. So... tell . What's with all the racket?"

Another guild mber, a girl with glasses, steps forward a bit. "Well... we've been hearing loud crashing sounds, like... things smashing against each other. Not just a one-ti thing, though. It happens almost every evening around the sa ti. It's... it's like soone's fighting. Hard."

"Hmm..." I raise an eyebrow, squinting into the distance as if the noise was still hanging in the air, waiting to be picked apart. "Every evening, huh? Sounds like soone's got a routine. What kind of fighting are we talking about here? Like... soone doing a little practice sparring with a tree or sothing?"

The girl with the glasses hesitates but answers anyway, "No, it's... much louder. Crashing, smashing. You can almost feel the force in the ground. It's definitely more than just so normal practice."

"Sounds like soone's making a ss," I mutter, already losing interest. But then, a thought crosses my mind. "Any idea who's doing it?"

The younger guy looks even more uncomfortable. "Well... we didn't get close enough to check, but we thought maybe it was a monster. It seed... violent, like the sounds of a battle, you know?"

I let out a dismissive noise. "Monsters... please. Monsters don't have that kind of rhythm. This sounds like a person. Or a bunch of idiots. But I'll go check it out. Don't want you all thinking so random monster is wrecking the place. Then you'll all get paranoid, and I'm not in the mood for that."

The mbers exchange glances, and one of them, a taller guy with a nervous fidget, asks, "You'll be alright on your own, right, Xander? It's kind of... strange, and who knows what it could be..."

I roll my eyes and wave them off. "I've got it under control. Don't worry about . Now, let's go. I need to get this over with."

As we walked further from Levinton, I couldn't help but glance back at the town. It wasn't much to look at, honestly. Small, cramped, with buildings that were sturdy but lacked character. It had that cold, utilitarian vibe to it—practical, but not exactly inspiring. People went about their business, stuck in the grind, never stopping to ask if they were actually happy. That's the kind of place Levinton was.

We reach the spot where the noise seems to have been coming from, and I stop dead in my tracks.

What I see is... unexpected. There, in the clearing, a girl with white hair and red eyes is cutting through the trees like they're nothing more than paper. But it's not just the trees she's cutting. It's the way she's doing it. She's using cursed magic, chains—or maybe thorns? I can't really tell what they are—flailing out from her hands, slicing through the trunks with precision. She's alone, utterly focused, moving with the kind of grace you only see in soone who's practiced sothing to perfection.

The guild mbers behind whisper among themselves. "That's Celia," one of them says, his voice quieter now. "She's the cursed girl Levi let stay with him at his house."

I squint, not really caring about the details. I'm more interested in the fighting style she's showing off. Huh. So this is how she trains? Interesting.

I lean back against a nearby tree, crossing my arms. "Efficient, I guess," I mutter. "But it looks like a lot of stamina's involved. All that flailing around... It's not the most elegant way of doing things. Then again, it works. But who needs that much effort? Seems like a lot of wasted energy to ." I yawn, pushing myself off the tree and walking a few paces closer, still observing.

I let out a lazy breath, letting the tension in my body drop completely. "Guess she's got her own style... but I don't know. Doesn't seem like the kind of thing I'd bother with. Too much effort for sothing that could be done in half the ti, with half the movent." I glance at the others behind , catching their wide-eyed expressions. "You know, I'd probably just cut everything down in one swing. Too bad that would be too boring."

I shake my head and call out to her, my voice slow, almost as if I couldn't be bothered.

"Celia," I say, watching her stop mid-motion and turn her head toward .

Zain's perspective:

I slowly made my way to my office, my boots tapping softly against the stone floor. The echoes of the guild halls seed to fade into the background as I neared my door. My guild mbers had ntioned a visitor, soone with information on the grotesques. There was an unsettling chill in the air, a faint sense of unease I couldn't quite shake.

I pushed open the door, and my eyes landed on the man sitting in the chair. His figure was obscured by bandages, his presence unsettling but not in the typical way. It wasn't the kind of disquiet that cos from a monster or an enemy, but rather the calm discomfort of soone who knew too much and wielded that knowledge like a weapon. I paused, sizing him up.

He didn't look like anyone I knew, but there was a certain weight to his presence that demanded attention. He didn't speak imdiately, rely sat there, eyes hidden behind those layers of bandages. I didn't know if it was arrogance or calculation, but I wasn't going to let it slide.

"You're the one," I said, keeping my tone steady, though my words were sharp. "The one with information about the grotesques?"

The man stood up slowly, as if on his own terms, like he was never in a rush to be anywhere. His movents were deliberate, asured. He didn't give off the vibe of soone trying to prove anything. If anything, he seed to be more interested in testing , in seeing how I would respond.

"That's correct," his voice was smooth, almost too smooth. There was a playfulness to it, like he knew exactly what he was doing, and he liked it.

He paused, letting the silence stretch just enough to keep on edge, then added, "The na's Aldric," his words almost sliding off his tongue, as if the na itself carried weight. He didn't elaborate, didn't offer more than that, as if I should already understand the significance behind it—or perhaps, the lack thereof. The bandages covering his face only made his presence more unnerving, like an enigma wrapped in mystery, daring to dig deeper.

I didn't offer a handshake. Instead, I nodded once. "Zain Kaelith," I said, keeping my voice steady. "Second Leader of Celestial Apex. Now, what exactly is it you think you know about the grotesques?"

Aldric's lips curled into a half-smile, though his face was nearly fully obscured by the bandages. He took a step forward, his presence shifting in a way that felt like a test.

"I know everything, Zain," he said, his voice low but piercing. "More than you ever will. That's why I'm here." He leaned in slightly, his tone lowering, as if he were about to reveal a secret. "You're facing sothing far beyond your understanding. The grotesques? They're not just beasts. They're a thod. A tool. A piece in a much larger ga."

I crossed my arms, staring at him. "Spare the riddles. What do you want?"

Aldric's eyes glinted beneath the bandages, as if he was savoring this mont. He took a deliberate step closer. "What do I want? Hmm... I want you to listen, Zain. Really listen. Because what I'm offering could save your guild, your people, and quite possibly, your life."

I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to remain unaffected. "And why would I listen to soone like you?"

He laughed softly, the sound like a knowing chuckle. "Oh, I think you will. You will because you know you need to. Because you're in a position where every decision weighs heavier than the last. You know the grotesques aren't just beasts to slay. You know that the war you're fighting is a losing one, unless you take the right steps." He paused, letting the words settle between us, before continuing, his tone now almost condescending. "But you don't need to take my word for it. Do you, Zain? You know how to make your own decisions. I just... help you see things clearly."

I stood there, unmoving, letting his words wash over . I wasn't foolish enough to let my guard down, but I wasn't going to dismiss him either. There was sothing in his words—sothing unsettling, yet strangely compelling.

"You think I'm desperate, don't you?" I asked, voice flat. "You think that I'll take anything that promises a way to stop the grotesques."

Aldric's smile widened. "I think you know when to strike, Zain. And right now, you know this is a strike you can't afford to miss. It's not desperation. It's awareness. You're a leader. You understand the weight of every decision. So... think of as soone who's simply offering you the tools to make the right one."

I paused. He was good—too good. He wasn't trying to convince with fancy words or promises of power. He was playing on my awareness, my responsibility. It wasn't sothing I could ignore, and the worst part? It was working.

I sighed, stepping back and pulling a chair out from behind my desk. "What do you want in return?"

Aldric took a slow step toward , his tone still light, but there was sothing dangerous lurking underneath it. "Nothing. For now. But I will need you to rember this mont, Zain. The mont you chose to listen." He gestured to the table beside my desk, where a thick docunt lay, waiting. "Everything you need to know is in that report. The grotesques' weaknesses. How they think. How to fight them. It's all there."

I stared at the docunt for a mont, before reaching for it. I didn't trust this man—not by a long shot. But the information was too crucial to dismiss, and deep down, I knew I'd be a fool not to take it.

I grabbed the docunt, feeling the weight of it in my hand. "We'll see," I said, my voice steady, though I couldn't quite shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of sothing much more complicated.

Aldric gave a small, knowing smile, as if he'd won the first round. "Oh, Zain, we already have, haven't we?"

I skimd through the first few pages of the docunt, my eyes widening with every paragraph. This wasn't just so quick rundown; this was a detailed, fourteen-page report on the grotesques. Every weakness, every behavior, every tactic—they were all laid out with ticulous precision. There was no way this was fabricated. This was life-changing information.

But as I turned the pages, a thought struck , and I paused. I looked up at Aldric, who was standing in that relaxed, almost mocking posture.

"Where did you get this?" I asked, voice sharp. "This—this is insane. It's too detailed. Too accurate."

Aldric leaned back, crossing his arms, that smirk still playing on his face. "Oh, this?" he said nonchalantly. "I wrote it myself, obviously. Not every day you get the ti to write up a little handbook on how to obliterate monsters." He shrugged, his eyes gleaming. "What can I say? I have a lot of free ti."

I narrowed my eyes, not fully buying it, but I couldn't afford to dig too deep just yet. I turned back to the docunt, now fully engrossed in it, every piece of information pressing forward.

"You're kidding," I muttered under my breath as I read more. "This... this could actually give us the edge we need."

I continued flipping through the pages, but it was hard to shake the feeling that Aldric was watching like a hawk, enjoying the effect this had on . Finally, I closed the docunt and sat back in my chair, still in shock. "This... this could change everything. With this, we could actually win. This might be the thing that turns the tide against the grotesques."

Aldric's smile faded into sothing darker. Slowly, he began walking over to , his footsteps silent but heavy. When he reached my desk, he didn't stop. He continued moving until he was standing directly in front of , his gaze sharp, his presence overwhelming.

"So now, Zain," he said in a low, almost predatory tone, "let's speak about my demands for this information."

I raised an eyebrow, leaning back in my chair. "You've already given the information. It's in my hands. Technically, I don't have to give you anything."

Aldric's lips parted into a wide grin, though his eyes never lost their intensity. The smile was mocking, almost cruel, and it shifted the atmosphere in the room completely.

"Well, Zain, you see," he drawled, his tone shifting back to that playful sarcasm, "in return for all this wonderful knowledge, I need you to do sothing for . It's a simple thing, really. Just obey one little order of mine."

I wasn't about to let him push around. "The docunt's already in my hand. I don't see how you have any leverage left."

Aldric's laughter rang out, but there was no humor in it. It was hollow, dark, and his eyes grew colder as he took a step forward, his body leaning in, almost as if he were savoring this mont.

"You see, Zain," he said, his voice suddenly lower and more sinister, "the thing is, not everything in that little docunt is real."

My breath caught in my chest. "What?" I snapped, my pulse quickening.

Aldric's grin widened, his eyes glittering with amusent. "Out of the fourteen pages, eight of them are complete fabrications. Misinformation." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in. "If you were to follow that report blindly, you'd be setting your mbers up for failure. And I'm sure you can imagine the kind of destruction that could cause. The grotesques would grow stronger. Their attacks would beco more vicious. Your guild would be obliterated."

I froze, my fingers tightening around the docunt in my hand.

Aldric's expression grew serious. "But if you obey , if you do exactly as I say, I'll tell you which parts are lies and which parts are the truth. I'll give you the real weaknesses, the true path to victory."

His aura shifted, darkening in a way that made the room feel colder. His eyes bore into , unblinking, his power radiating with a weight that threatened to crush under its intensity.

I could feel the manipulation, the pressure mounting. He wasn't just trying to get to follow his orders—he was bending to his will, pushing into a corner where I had no choice but to yield.

I couldn't help but admire the brilliance of his tactic. He was using the most basic human fear against : the fear of loss. The fear of making the wrong choice. The fear of letting my people down. And with it, he was making doubt myself, doubt the very information I had in my hands. The mont I considered the possibility that the information might be false, it was as though I had no choice but to follow him. To trust him. To obey.

Aldric had made it clear—without him, I would be walking into a disaster. He knew exactly how to exploit my responsibility, my desire to protect those I cared for, and he was using it to force my hand. He wasn't just manipulating with threats—he was manipulating with my own doubts.

This was the kind of psychological warfare that could bring even the most steadfast to their knees. And Aldric knew it.

In that mont, I understood just how dangerous he was. His mind was sharp, calculating. He wasn't just a man with power—he was a master at making others dance to his tune.

And I had just beco another puppet on his string.

Aldric's breath was warm against my ear as he whispered, his voice dripping with that sa, unsettling calm. "C'mon, Zain. Ti's running out."

I could feel the pressure rising in my chest, a knot of reluctance and frustration tightening. Part of still believed I could crack the code of the docunts myself, or better yet, with the help of my guild mbers. We were intelligent, resourceful—there had to be a way to figure out the truth without becoming a pawn in Aldric's ga.

I had access to their minds, their expertise. Together, we could analyze the information. Maybe there was a way to decipher the truth in those pages, find the hidden inconsistencies, and bring the victory to our side without bowing to his demands. After all, this was bigger than .

But then, I thought about Aldric's presence. He wasn't just so low-level manipulator. The way he'd already infiltrated my thoughts, how easily he'd twisted the situation in his favor—it was like he knew exactly what strings to pull. He wasn't soone you could push around, not like the others I had dealt with before. His mind was sharp, a predator who could read every one of my moves, and he wasn't scared of anyone. He was a deadly player, and I could sense it, taste it.

Could I afford to risk it? Could I really go against soone who was this dangerous?

But... the docunt was in my hands, and I couldn't just let him use like this. I couldn't. It wasn't just my pride; it was the principle of it all. I wasn't going to kneel to this man's whims.

I took a slow breath, feeling the weight of his gaze on . Then, sothing inside hardened.

No. I couldn't do it. I wasn't going to let him win.

"Fine," I said, my voice cold, matching the resolve that was growing within . "I won't accept your demands. I don't need your help. You've given the information, and I'll handle the rest."

Aldric's expression didn't falter at first, but I could see the flicker of sothing darker behind his eyes. He took a step closer, his posture relaxing into a threatening calmness.

His voice, when it ca, was coated in sothing cruel, sothing deeper. "Are you sure, Zain? Because you'll find out, sooner or later, that information like this cos with a price." His tone darkened, dripping with malice, and his smile twisted back into sothing sinister.

I couldn't help the satisfaction that rose in my chest as he stepped back. I thought I had won. No strings. No deals.

But Aldric wasn't done. His eyes were colder now, the mockery gone, replaced with sothing far worse. Sothing dangerous.

"Oh, Zain," he said, his voice lowering to a dangerous whisper, "then perhaps I'll have to make my own move." His words were slow, deliberate, as if savoring the dread they created.

I narrowed my eyes. "What do you an?"

Aldric's smile turned darker, twisted. "I'll just have to make sure Levinton is wiped off the Celestine map, then."

Confusion crept into my mind. "What are you saying?"

Aldric took another step forward, leaning in close again. His breath was cool against my ear as he whispered, "Let's just say I know everything about how your guild does things, Zain."

A cold shiver ran down my spine. His words were laced with an icy certainty, and suddenly, I felt like I was no longer in control of this conversation. I wanted to pull away, but sothing kept rooted to my spot, locked in his gaze.

Then, his voice shifted again, this ti colder, more murderous than I could have imagined.

"Hidden arena," he whispered, as if each word was a weapon. "Deep inside the guild's stronghold. A place where... weaker mbers are forced to fight each other. Survival battles. The winners... they get higher rankings, privileges. Things like that."

I froze. My chest tightened, my blood running cold. How—how could he know that? The arena was supposed to be a secret. The one thing even most of the guild didn't know about. It wasn't just a tradition—it was a necessity for those in our ranks who wanted power. But it wasn't supposed to be known. Not by him.

Aldric's voice lowered further, becoming even more chilling, the final death sentence. "But the ones who lose... they're discarded. Or worse. Used for training exercises by the stronger mbers. They just... they vanish. So of them never co back. Where do they go, Zain?"

I couldn't answer. I couldn't even think. My mind was swirling, trying to reconcile the impossible with the terrible truth he was laying out. How did he know?

Aldric leaned closer, his smile still devilish. "Anyone who tries to leave the guild... they're hunted down. Killed. Or worse. So are taken for experints. By you, Zain. And I know that much."

The words crashed through my defenses like a tidal wave. His voice beca a taunting lody that echoed in my skull, over and over again. There was no way he could know this. There was no way he could have uncovered our darkest secrets.

But he had.

He knew everything.

My heart raced as I looked at him, unable to speak, unable to think clearly.

"Don't pretend like you're the only one in control here," Aldric said, his voice cold and sharp. "I know exactly how you keep your little secrets. And if you refuse my deal, I'll make sure they all co to light. Your guild won't even know what hit it."

I felt the sweat trickling down the back of my neck, my hands suddenly clammy. How—how had he found this out? The arena was hidden, kept under wraps for a reason.

Aldric's voice grew even more unnerving, each word wrapped in a cruel cadence that seed designed to rattle my very core.

"You know," he said, his tone light, almost conversational, "I've seen Levi at Sylvaris. I've seen him go to Requiem, asking for their help. A simple request, really. But have you ever wondered what would happen if I told Requiem everything? About how your guild operates? The little 'secrets' you so desperately try to hide?"

I felt my pulse quicken, a sinking sensation building in my stomach. I didn't like where this was going.

"What will happen?" I asked, trying to mask the unease creeping into my voice.

Aldric leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing, his smile curling into sothing colder, sharper. "Oh, nothing really," he said. "But once I tell Requiem these little facts... I don't think Sylvia or Alina would be willing to help a so-called 'guild' like yours anymore." His gaze was deathly, the kind of look that could freeze the air around it. "You see, Zain, you've got a lot more to lose than you think."

I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady. "What do you an?"

He didn't answer imdiately. Instead, he stared at with that sa, sickening intensity. "As for Xander," he continued, his words deliberate and asured, "he's already very lazy, don't you think? I don't think he'd lift a finger to help a guild where such things happen. He's already too comfortable."

His words pierced deeper, like knives being twisted. Every ntion of those close to —the ones I relied on—felt like a betrayal in itself.

"You see, Zain," Aldric said with a dark smile, "once I reveal all of this to them, it guarantees that they'll walk away from your side. You'll be left with nothing. Not the guild, not the alliances, and certainly not the strength to fight the grotesques."

His eyes glinted with malicious satisfaction. The weight of his words was like chains clamping down on my chest. I could feel my will crumbling beneath the gravity of his threats. I had no way out. I couldn't deny it.

It was over.

I took a deep breath, trying to maintain so semblance of control, but the reality was undeniable. My options had been reduced to dust. I couldn't refuse him—not anymore.

Aldric's eyes glead with the triumph of a hunter who'd caught his prey. "Good boy," he purred, as if I had just done exactly what he wanted. He walked up to , his hand brushing lightly over my shoulder in a strangely intimate gesture. It was like he was mocking , deaning with a touch that made my blood run cold.

I barely reacted. My mind was clouded, a mix of anger, frustration, and the deep sting of betrayal.

"What do you want from ?" I managed to ask, my voice strained, but controlled.

Aldric's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with dark amusent. He leaned in close, his voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. "Simple," he said coldly. "I want all of your guild mbers guarding the town to return to the stronghold. Leave it empty for a week. Just a week, Zain."

I felt the ground shift beneath , the impossible nature of his request crashing over like a tidal wave. I stepped back instinctively, the words sticking in my throat as I tried to process what he was asking.

"That's impossible," I said, my voice tense with disbelief. "A grotesque attack could happen at any mont. We need every single mber out there for defense."

Aldric's smile didn't waver, but his eyes turned into sothing colder, sothing more lethal. "Impossible?" he echoed, his tone dripping with malice. "What's impossible, Zain, is thinking you have any control left. You're going to let do this, or you'll watch everything you've worked for crumble to dust. I'm giving you a choice, but make no mistake—you'll pay the price either way."

His words felt like the slow, agonizing press of a vice on my chest, each syllable squeezing the air out of my lungs.

"You think this town matters, Zain?" Aldric asked, his voice now venomously calm. "You think it'll still matter when your guild is scattered, when those closest to you turn their backs, when Requiem knows the truth? You'll be left with nothing. So ask yourself, what's more important? Your pride or your guild's survival?"

I could feel the blood draining from my face as his words wrapped themselves around my mind. He wasn't just threatening anymore. He was threatening everything. Everyone. My guild, my people, the very foundation of what I had spent years building.

It was blackmail, manipulation... and the worst part was, I could feel myself slowly giving in. The fear was creeping into my bones.

"You think you have a choice, Zain?" His voice dropped to a low, mocking whisper. "You think you can protect this town, this guild, with your pride intact? You think you can stand tall and defy without watching it all co crashing down around you? How delusional."

He took a step forward, and my body stiffened instinctively, my pulse racing.

"Your guild, Zain," he continued, every word dripping with disdain, "will fall apart faster than you can rebuild it. I know exactly what will destroy your reputation—what will make everyone you've fought so hard for turn against you. The towns people will rebel, the alliances will shatter, and your precious Celestial Apex will be nothing more than a forgotten na in history. A dog's tail wagging for scraps."

I felt my heart clench. He was no longer threatening just ; he was threatening the very foundation of everything I'd built. Every person who believed in , every ally who trusted .

Aldric's eyes narrowed, a gleam of sadistic pleasure flashing in them as he spoke next, almost as though savoring the mont. "You're just a dog, Zain. A dog that thinks it has the luxury of barking at the chain it's shackled to. But if you bite the hand that feeds you, it will break you. And when that happens, I'll be there, watching as everything you've worked for crumbles to dust."

The words hit harder than any blade ever could. My heart raced, every nerve in my body screaming to find a way out, to fight back. But there was no way out. No fight left in . Not when he had taken everything I valued and turned it against .

His voice turned smooth, like oil on water, cutting through my fear and hesitation. "So, you're going to listen, aren't you? You're going to do exactly what I say."

My breath caught in my chest. I hated him. I hated this feeling, the feeling of being reduced to nothing but a pawn. I wanted to resist. I wanted to scream, to tear this man apart with my own hands. But the weight of his threats—the very real destruction he was promising—left powerless.

"Fine," I said, my voice strained but steady. "I'll do it."

Aldric's smile returned, dark and triumphant. He walked up to , brushing a hand through his ssy hair, like he was caressing sothing precious. "Good boy," he whispered, his words as cold as ice.

I wanted to lash out, to slap the condescending smile off his face, but I held myself back. The last thing I needed was to show weakness in front of this monster.

He stepped back, and with a flourish, handed a new set of papers. "Now," he said, his tone almost casual, "the docunts I gave you? From one to eight? Throw those out. Fake. Misinformation. All of it. But the rest—those are the real deal. Focus on those."

I blinked, my mind racing. What was he playing at now? He went from holding at gunpoint to playing a sick ga of troll.

"Wait... so the whole ti... those were..." I couldn't finish my sentence. My brain was still catching up to the absurdity of it all.

Aldric saw the confusion in my face, and his lips curled into a smirk. "Oh, don't look so surprised, Zain. It's funny to watch you scramble for control when I've already got you on a leash."

The nerve of him. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. From blackmail to mockery in a single breath.

As I stood there, staring at the pile of docunts in my hands, I couldn't help but question everything. Who the hell was this guy?

He'd just been holding hostage with threats, shattering everything I'd worked for, and now he was acting like so deranged prankster, twisting my mind into knots. Was this his ga? A sick, twisted dance where the stakes were life and death—and yet he treated it all like it was so grand joke?

"You know, Zain," he said, his voice light and playful, "I always thought you'd be more... intimidating. But here you are, just standing there looking like a confused puppy. It's almost cute."

I frowned, clenching my jaw. "Cute? Is that really what you're going for right now?"

He chuckled, the sound light and mocking. "Oh, co on, it's just a little friendly teasing. You should learn to take a joke, Zain. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll grow into the whole 'tough guy' thing. Maybe by the ti you're in your next life, huh?"

I rolled my eyes. "What's with the sudden shift in mood? One minute, you're threatening to ruin everything I've built, and now you're cracking jokes like we're old pals?"

Aldric tilted his head, his grin never fading. "Oh, you know. It's important to keep things interesting. Otherwise, it gets so dreadfully boring. And who needs that, right?" He winked, as if everything was a ga to him.

"Besides," he continued with a playful smirk, "I've already twisted your world into a pretzel. Now it's ti for the fun part—watching you try to untangle yourself. You'd be amazed how much fun I have with these little gas."

I couldn't help but be irritated by his playful deanor. "You're twisted, you know that?"

He shrugged, his smile widening. "Takes one to know one, right?"

I scowled, still unsure how to even process everything he had just done. "So, what now? You've got what you wanted, you've made your demands, and now you're what—just going to waltz out of here and pretend everything's fine?"

Aldric let out a short laugh, and for the first ti, there was a hint of amusent in his voice. "Oh, you sweet sumr child. I'm done here, Zain. My work is finished. But don't think for one second that you've escaped. No, no, no." He stood up and stretched, like he was just getting started with a long, grueling day. "I've set the stage, and now it was my turn to change fate."

I stared at Aldric, his words hanging in the air like a heavy fog. "I've set the stage, and now it was my turn to change fate." What the hell did that an?

Was he implying that everything up until now was just a prelude to sothing far worse? Sothing he was orchestrating behind the scenes? My mind raced as I tried to piece it together. What was his real ga? Change fate—those words echoed in my thoughts, a chilling whisper of sothing far more sinister.

Before I could dive deeper into my thoughts, the door to my office burst open with a force that made jump. A guild mber rushed in, breathless and wide-eyed.

"Zain, it's about Xander..." the man panted, his voice filled with panic.

I narrowed my eyes, already feeling a knot of tension in my stomach. "Why the hell are you screaming?"

The guild mber didn't seem to notice my irritation. His expression was too frantic, too terrified to care about anything other than the urgency of his ssage.

"It's about Xander, Zain!" he repeated, his voice quivering. "He's fighting with Celia... near the forest. It's getting serious. The noise—it's—it's..."

I cut him off, my frustration growing. "What happened between those two?"

The guild mber gulped, looking even more terrified as he struggled to find the right words. "I—I don't know exactly, but Celia was causing a ruckus, yelling and—arguing. And then, it escalated. They're really going at it, Zain. A fight broke out... I'm afraid one of them might get seriously hurt."

My mind imdiately went into overdrive, the situation more critical than I realized. Xander was no joke, and neither was Celia when she was angry. If those two were clashing like this, sothing had gone horribly wrong.

My thoughts were interrupted when I glanced at Aldric, the sense of unease in the pit of my stomach growing.

I opened my mouth to tell the guild mber I needed to leave. But before I could say a word, I noticed the sudden shift in Aldric.

His eyes, those deep, black voids, were now radiating a dangerous blue aura. It wasn't just a flicker of magic—it was a storm of power, raw and unfathomable. His entire deanor had changed, his earlier playful tone now gone. He was as cold as steel, every inch of him radiating murderous intent.

Aldric's lips curled into a cruel smile. "I'm coming as well."

"Aldric, you can't—"

His voice was low, almost a growl. "It's a demand, not a request. I'm coming with you."

I wanted to argue, to tell him to stay out of this—this wasn't his problem, after all—but the words stuck in my throat. I couldn't. That look in his eyes, that aura—it left no room for refusal.

I clenched my fists, knowing full well I didn't have a choice in the matter. "Fine. Let's go."

Without another word, Aldric and I were already moving, running out of the guild building, heading towards the forest where Xander and Celia were in the middle of their fight. Every step felt heavier as the weight of the situation sank in. Whatever Aldric was planning, I had no idea, but sothing told this was about to get much, much worse.