The rest of the night passed without incident.
I slept like a log, undisturbed by the hushed voices outside my room. Apparently, Evelyn and Kaelira had gotten into a quiet argument sometime after I’d gone to bed, but I hadn’t cared enough to eavesdrop.
Their banter, the tension between them—it didn’t concern me. I had more pressing matters on my mind than the jealousy of a girl who hadn’t even confessed her feelings.
By morning, the sun streamed in through the window, a soft golden glow warming the wooden floorboards.
I pulled on my uniform without much thought, brushed my teeth, splashed cold water on my face, and styled my hair. No glamour. No pretense. Just another day where blood might be spilled.
Descending the creaky staircase of the inn, I found Kaelira already seated at the modest dining table near the hearth.
Her scarlet hair was tied up in her usual high ponytail, and she was leaning forward slightly, speaking to Evelyn in a calm but firm tone. Both of them turned as I approached.
"Good morning," I greeted, sliding into the empty chair beside them.
Kaelira gave me a nod. Evelyn responded with a stiff smile, clearly still stewing about something. I didn’t particularly care what.
The old innkeeper—grandmotherly and hunched, but surprisingly quick on her feet—brought over steaming bowls of broth and a plate of dense bread.
We thanked her briefly, and I dug in without delay. I wasn’t here to entertain morning pleasantries. The day would be long, and I preferred to march on a full stomach.
About halfway through my meal, Evelyn coughed lightly, as if to draw attention to herself.
"Cassius," she said, voice clipped. "Where are we heading today? Cybele Town, or... the Astreel estate?"
I didn’t look up right away. I chewed my bread and swallowed before replying, casually. "Kael and I had a conversation last night. So... if you don’t mind, I think we’ll be going to the estate first."
Evelyn’s expression tightened. "If I do mind?"
I sighed through my nose and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. "Then I’ll go alone with her. To be fair, I don’t need you there anyway."
Her gasp was theatrical, as expected. "That’s not how you make someone agree with you."
I leaned back in my chair, meeting her glare with indifference. "I already know you’d object, Evelyn. So why pretend to give you a choice? If you’d prefer, take the chariot and go to Cybele on your own. I’ll cover the expenses. Besides, no one in their right mind would try anything stupid with a Rose Academy student."
Kaelira, who had been silent until now, chimed in. Her voice was level, almost diplomatic. "He’s right. Say what you will about our view on foreigners, but we value knowledge. Nobody would dare attack a Rose Academy student without risking consequences. That name still carries weight."
I pointed a thumb in her direction. "See?"
Evelyn didn’t respond right away. Her lips pressed into a line, and she stared down at her food. Then she bit into her bread a little too aggressively, jaw tight.
"...As you wish," she said coldly. "Go and enjoy your time with this—" she paused, then stopped herself from finishing the insult. "Forget it."
But that unfinished sentence did more damage than any slur she could have used. Kaelira’s brow twitched slightly, though she said nothing. Her posture straightened, and the air between the two women turned frigid.
Not that I intended to intervene. Evelyn’s emotions were hers to manage. She was interested in Cassius—in me—for whatever misguided reason.
And I? I had no intention of reciprocating. If anything, my current priority was to drive that affection straight into the ground.
Sometimes, being a jerk was the kindest thing you could do.
And sex? It wasn’t about pleasure or desire—not in this case. My interactions with Kaelira were nothing more than calculated plays, a way to make Evelyn hate me, to break whatever illusion of romance she had cooked up in her mind.
If that hurt her, good.
’You are supposed to be Leon’s woman... I don’t like NTR...a BIT.’
Still, not everything was manipulation.
Vaylin Astreel’s name had already been etched into my mental hitlist long before Kaelira asked me to kill him. His offenses weren’t just against her sister. They were crimes against humanity itself.
Behind the facade of nobility and grandeur, Duke Astreel ran a rot-soaked kingdom built on blood and screams. Slavery. Human trafficking.
Child exploitation. Torture. Sex slavery. Black market organ trading. Even cannibalistic rituals masked as "exotic cuisine." He was a walking cesspool of filth, cloaked in silk and sanctioned by a corrupted crown.
Those masked fools in Everhart had quite some juicy information.
I didn’t need a reason to kill them.
Kaelira finished her soup in silence, her fingers occasionally clenching the fabric of her coat.
Evelyn hadn’t touched hers since the exchange. She just sat there, brooding. Occasionally, she’d steal a glance my way, as if searching for something—remorse, perhaps?
She wouldn’t find it.
As I rose from my seat and stretched slightly, I looked at the two of them and spoke, tone final.
"We move in an hour. Kael, prep your gear. Evelyn, take the chariot. Do whatever you need to do. I’ll see you when this is all over."
Evelyn didn’t reply, but Kaelira stood. She didn’t smile, didn’t gloat. She simply nodded and walked toward the stairwell, her dagger glinting at her hip.
We left the inn, me and Kaelira, with Evelyn still inside. She had mentioned she would be staying behind for a little while longer.
I wasn’t sure why she needed the time, but I didn’t pry. Instead, I handed her a small pouch containing all the money I had left.
Twenty silver coins and twenty-six copper, more than enough for her to handle herself for the time being.
Kaelira, on the other hand, was already preparing to leave. She had a horse, which surprised me a little.
I hadn’t expected her to travel with a steed of her own, but then again, she was a mercenary and could probably afford it.
The way she interacted with the horse, though, was different. She didn’t tie it up or leave it at a stable. No, instead, she let it roam freely around the outskirts of the town, waiting patiently for her summons.
With a single whistle, the horse came galloping over. Its hooves beat against the earth in a rhythmic pounding, sending up clouds of dust. As it approached, I saw its full stature and felt a sense of awe. The horse was breathtaking.
It was a jet-black beast, its coat gleaming under the sunlight like a shadow given form. Its eyes glowed an intense deep blue, a near-perfect match to Kaelira’s own eyes.
There was something undeniably majestic about the animal, and the connection between the two was immediate.
I couldn’t help but grin as I watched it slow down to a trot. "Looks like a high breed," I said, impressed.
Kaelira smiled faintly, clearly pleased by the compliment. She seemed almost protective of the creature, as though she knew how special it was.
"He’s from a distant bloodline of Rank ★★★★★★," she replied, her voice almost fond. "Steed Blackmane. This one, Atter, is a high breed of Rank ★★★★."
I nodded slowly, impressed by the way she spoke of the horse with such reverence. I had no doubt that this horse was far more than just an animal to her. She had a deep connection with it.
The black horse’s presence was almost intoxicating. I took a step forward and reached out, gently running my hand along the horse’s fur.
Atter didn’t pull away. He didn’t shy back or react aggressively like most horses would toward strangers. He stood there, calm and unmoving, almost as if he was accepting my touch.
Kaelira, who had been watching me closely, was taken aback by this. Her eyes widened in surprise. "He never lets anyone near him besides me," she said in disbelief, her voice tinged with a mix of awe and something else—perhaps a hint of possessiveness.
I chuckled lightly, running my hand across the horse’s sleek coat. "I have a way with animals," I said simply, not needing to explain further. "Domestic ones, at least."
Kaelira raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a wry smile. "Yeah, you’re calling them ’animals.’ They’re domestic."
With the horse calm and settled, I glanced toward the road leading out of the town. "By the way, how long will it take to get to Astreel?" I asked, already knowing it was going to be a lengthy ride.
Kaelira didn’t waste any time with unnecessary details. "Around five hours," she answered bluntly.
I clicked my tongue in frustration. "Five hours... That’s a long time."
She laughed lightly, turning her head to face me. "Don’t act like it’s such a burden. I’m the one riding the horse, you know. You’ll be fine."
I waved my hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. You’re right."
Kaelira mounted Atter with practiced ease, her body fluid and graceful as she settled into the saddle.
She turned toward me and glanced over her shoulder. "You ready?" she asked, her voice light but carrying a hint of challenge.
I climbed onto the horse behind her, positioning myself just slightly to the side of her waist.
I gripped her waist tightly, feeling the warmth of her body through the fabric of her clothes.
"Comfortable?" she asked, her voice slightly teasing but with a genuine edge of concern.
I gave a small nod, settling in a little more. "Yeah, this is fine."
With that, Kaelira gave the reins a gentle tug, urging Atter forward. The horse responded immediately, beginning a steady pace as we made our way down the dirt road.
The breeze was cool, and the sun was climbing higher in the sky, casting long shadows behind us as we traveled.
We rode in silence for a while, the rhythmic clip-clop of Atter’s hooves the only sound accompanying us.
And so, we continued on, heading toward Astreel, with five long hours ahead of us—and much more still to come.