"That was... quite the tour he gave us," Lucy said, a little amused as they stepped out.
Camroon had gone on at length—far more than expected—explaining everything from Josai’s past to their beliefs, even why they dressed in those simple, worn robes.
But despite all that... there was sothing unexpected there.
They didn’t just teach magic to orphans or those who couldn’t afford it—they also taught them practical skills, different crafts, ways to actually survive and earn on their own.
That part lingered with Cassian.
It pulled his thoughts back to his own childhood—sothing he rarely thought about anymore. Back then, he had been too busy just surviving, dealing with things no one in those slums should have ever faced.
If not for his master, Russel... and the warrior training system...
He probably wouldn’t have made it out alive.
he had ca so far from veldora that no one even really ntion that place here but it was also because of his luck not many orphans like him get that type of luck and so he liked how even if bit fantics these people maybe atleast they were doing good.
"Yeah... it was a lot," Cassian said, his voice quieter than before.
He didn’t want to linger on it.
So he shifted the topic. "It’s almost noon... how about we go et my friends?"
Both won nodded, and Ravees spoke up, "Do they know you’re coming?"
"Nah," Cassian replied with a small shrug. "We’ll just drop by one of their places and see from there."
But just as he said that, he stopped.
His gaze fixed on a narrow alley nearby.
It looked familiar.
Too familiar.
It was the sa one he used to live in with Robert—just a month or two ago, back when he was still working with the city’s law enforcent unit.
The ti he had spent there hadn’t been long... but it had been enough.
Enough to build sothing real.
And the way it ended—with betrayal—had left its mark deeper than he liked to admit.
As that thought lingered, his eyes shifted toward Ravees.
The irony didn’t escape him.
He was doing the sa thing now—slowly pushing her toward betraying her own husband.
It left a bitter taste in his mouth.
And yet... there was sothing else mixed into it.
Sothing darker.
A pull that made him want to keep going anyway.
"What happened?" Ravees asked, pulling him out of it.
Cassian blinked, then shook his head, casting one last look down the alley—a place he probably wouldn’t be returning to anyti soon.
"Nothing," he said, starting to walk again. "I used to live down there... before the war."
"Is that so?" Lucy asked, glancing back as they moved ahead. "Don’t you still have stuff there? Want to go check it out?"
"Nah... there’s nothing there," Cassian said, a faint, almost distant smile on his face. "Just a few mories..."
He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to feel about it anymore.
Anger at Robert’s betrayal?
Or sothing else.
Because right now... he was doing sothing similar himself—pushing soone else toward betraying the person closest to her.
The difference, he told himself, was simple.
Ravees’ betrayal... would hurt one person.
What Robert had done... had cost far more than that.
Lives.
That thought settled it enough for him.
He wasn’t going to stop.
Before long, they arrived in front of the building where Lumine and Cassandra lived.
As they climbed the stairs to their floor, Cassian spoke up, filling the silence.
"They both used to work with in law enforcent," he explained. "Lumine was on a different team, but we got close after the war started. And Cassandra..." he gave a small shrug, "I knew her before that. She was my superior."
"How close exactly?" Lucy asked, a hint of amusent in her voice.
Cassian chuckled at the teasing. "Close enough that I can drop by her place whenever I feel like it..." he said casually—even though this was only his second ti coming here.
"Oh really?" Lucy’s smile widened, clearly entertained, while Ravees just looked a bit confused by the exchange.
"Nah, I’m kidding..." Cassian added, knocking on the door.
A voice ca from inside, slightly raised. "Who is it?"
"It’s —Cassian," he replied, a small smile forming.
The door opened almost imdiately.
Lumine stood there, looking surprised, dressed casually in her ho wear—a long shirt that fell down to her thighs. It left just enough to the imagination to catch Cassian’s attention for a brief mont.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, a smile spreading across her face.
Cassian leaned against the doorfra with an easy grin.
"Thought I’d drop by... see if you missed ," he said, then tilted his head back slightly. "Also brought so company."
Lumine looked past him, first at Lucy—who gave a small, polite smile—and then at Ravees. Her gaze lingered there a second longer.
Cassian noticed and filled in casually, "This is Lucy... and that’s Ravees."
Lucy gave a small wave. "Hi."
"Ravees is my lady’s bodyguard," Cassian added. "Katherine—you’ve probably heard of her."
Lumine nodded once. "Yeah... hard not to."
"She’s a Sixth Circle Warrior," Cassian went on, shrugging like it was nothing. "Sa level as your sister."
Lumine’s brows lifted a bit, then she looked Ravees over again—this ti more curious than anything.
"Huh... that explains the vibe," she said lightly before stepping aside. "Well, don’t just stand there. Co in."
Cassian walked in like he owned the place.
"See? Told you I could drop by anyti."
"You’ve been here once," Lumine shot back, closing the door behind them.
"Details," he said, waving it off.
Lucy stepped in next, already looking around with interest, while Ravees followed quietly, her eyes moving around the room but her posture still composed.
Lumine turned back to them, crossing her arms loosely.
"So... what’s the plan?" she asked. "Random visit, or are you dragging sowhere?"
Cassian smirked. "Lunch. With friends."
Lumine sighed dramatically. "Ah... so I’m the ’friend’ now."
"Oh... are you two more than just ’friends’?" Lucy asked, clearly amused as her eyes moved between them.
Lumine’s gaze snapped to Cassian.
Sharp.
Her smile didn’t fade—but there was sothing in it now, sothing that clearly said go on... answer her.
Cassian felt it imdiately.
That sudden, quiet pressure.
He swallowed, a faint chill running down his spine.
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