Essa's POV

A Champion?

They must have sensed the mana disturbance, drawn here just like me.

A grin spread across my face. Without another moment's hesitation, I leapt toward it.

I moved from one rooftop to another, my boots splashing against the rain-slick tiles as I kept my focus on the Champion's signature, which was on the far side of Valra's house—opposite my own position.

As I closed in, the man, Valra's father, suddenly picked up on my approaching presence.

And then, without warning, a lance of flame erupted in my direction. I clicked my tongue, realising Valra's father must have mistaken me for an enemy.

I didn't attack back. Instead, I darted sideways, dodging the flames with a sharp twist, crouching low and gathering my strength in my legs.

BOOM!

I launched myself skyward, twisting and swirling through the storm to stay out of his perception range. As I spun in the air, I caught sight of something glinting in Valra's father's hand... a golden glass tube, clutched tightly as if it were precious.

A strange sense of familiarity tugged at me, but I shook it off and focused on landing atop another building.

I glanced back to find the man glaring up at me, his eyes burning with a murderous intent.

I shrugged, keeping my cool, and turned away, following the faint trail toward the next building... toward the Champion's hiding place.

As I neared, the Champion's figure sensed my approach and immediately jumped away, launching themself from the rooftop in a desperate attempt to escape.

"Not on my watch!" I gritted my teeth and hurled myself after them, leaping from wall to wall, slipping and sliding down into a narrow alley. The figure was faster than I expected—slipping through the wet, treacherous streets as if the rain were nothing.

"Champion… Listen to me!" I called, trying to be heard above the roar of the storm. But the figure paid no attention... just kept running!

I clenched my jaw, fighting the urge to draw my weapon. If I attacked now, I'd ruin everything.

I needed this Champion's cooperation, and a fight would only anger my Master.

'Isn't that right, Master?'

'Of course! I will fucking kill you if you screw this up.'

See…

I sighed, pushing myself to keep up the pursuit. The chase continued until, suddenly, the figure darted into the deep forest at the city's edge.

I frowned. "Looks like I've wandered straight into your trap," I muttered, glancing around the shadows of the woods.

Wet leaves trembled overhead, the ground slick and treacherous beneath my feet. The rain kept falling, drumming on every surface, making it almost impossible to move quickly without risking a fall.

Even so, I kept my senses sharp. I knew the Champion was nearby... hidden in the gloom, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"I'm telling you. I didn't come to harm you—"

Before I could finish, I heard a wet splash—the snap of a branch moving sharply. I spun toward the sound, my hand flickering with mana as I summoned a curved, rusted blade.

Tang!

The blade rang as it blocked something fast—so fast I barely saw it.

A stone?

I wondered, eyes narrowing.

Drip… Drip…

The sound of rain droplets echoed in my ears. I clenched my fist tighter around my weapon.

"Listen… as I said, I didn't come to harm you! I only wish to talk—"

"Is that so?"

A sly voice materialised out of the darkness before me. My reflexes kicked in, my hand swinging back to block something that shot in from behind, steel clashing against steel.

My lips curled into a wry grin. "Nice trick,"

"Not as clever as yours," the voice replied, slithering through the shadows around me. I frowned, keeping my stance ready. "Believe me… I didn't come here to fight—"

Tang!

"That's what they all say before trying something!"

Tang!!

"Get the hell out of here!!"

Tang!!

Sparks flew in the gloom as I blocked every blow.... Whoever this person was, they really wanted me gone.

But I wasn't leaving.

"The Fallen have appeared!" I yelled, though I knew I'd hesitated too long. Still, the words rang out.

Tang!

"So what?"

The voice was harsher now, strained, and I realised this figure understood exactly why I was here.

I drew a deep breath, letting my weapon dissolve, flickering with a green-gold hue as it vanished from my grip. Just then, I felt something rush toward my head—almost impossibly fast, with enough intent to kill.

However—

Ssshh~

Only the air was disturbed behind me. Whatever weapon or stone they wielded halted, hovering just an inch from my neck, suspended in lethal silence.

For a long, suspended second, neither of us moved. The rain battered harder, echoing in the standoff, the tension thick as the weapon hovered dangerously close.

A weapon, I realised—a proper one, not just a stone.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the presence behind me vanished. I exhaled in relief and turned.

Standing there was a man... dressed in old, tattered clothes, black hair falling over amused eyes as he watched me closely.

"So, this beautiful lady comes all the way here for this benevolent man?" he said, his tone lofty and mocking.

My lips twitched, both irritated and amused by his arrogance.

He shrugged at my reaction, a curious glint lingering in his dark eyes as the rain pattered between us.

"I wonder what kind of face you're hiding beneath that cloak," he mused, his tone teasing but edged with real curiosity.

I couldn't help but grin beneath the shadow of my hood, "You want to see me that badly~?" I drawled, deliberately making my tone sultry and just a little bit mocking.

At the sound of my voice, he actually flinched—a small, involuntary jerk, his gaze snapping to the edge of my hood as if he'd suddenly realized there was more to my disguise than just fabric.

He coughed awkwardly, struggling to regain his composure, then forced out, "Well, you hide your face, and we hide ours. No need to think too hard about it…" He waved one hand, dismissing the awkwardness, but I saw his eyes never left my face.

"Anyway, what's the real reason you're searching for me tonight?"

I nodded, "The next appearance of the Relic is coming up—just six days from now," I said, voice low, watching his reaction carefully. "I need to know the exact location… and the precise time it's going to show up. That's why I tracked you down."

"Hmm?" He frowned, stepping closer, eyes narrowed in suspicion as if he were still trying to place me. "Aren't you… A Champion yourself? Shouldn't you know already?"

I shook my head, "That's not what matters right now. Some things even Champions aren't told"

His frown only deepened. But then, after a long moment, he nodded slowly, as if he'd already guessed this much. "I see where this is heading, but… why would I just give you that information?" His lips curled into a sharp smirk.

Of course, he wouldn't hand it over so easily... That's exactly why I had to press a different nerve.

"Because of the Fallens,"

At that, he visibly flinched, a shadow crossing his face. He fell silent for a long second, his mind racing as he considered the possibility. "So, they really have shown up…" he muttered at last, voice distant, almost haunted.

Then his eyes snapped back to mine, sharp and suspicious. "Even so—why does that mean I should tell you when and where the Relic appears?"

I smirked, stepping in just a little closer, "Because the Fallens are searching for it too. They're not far behind. When they find it, you and your master won't stand a chance. Death would be a mercy. If you're unlucky, you'll end up just like them. Twisted..." My lips curled in a wicked, knowing smile.

He frowned harder, lips pressing together as he tilted his head. I could see him weighing the risks, running through every scenario in his mind—trying to decide whether to trust me or not.

I pressed my advantage, "And it's not just one or two. There are three Fallens in the city now. And also another one is Stage Four. Not just anyone—Dracula himself."

His face drained of colour in an instant, all bravado wiped away by that single name. For a heartbeat, all we heard was the water falling all around.

"And how does telling you anything help me?" he demanded finally, his voice harsher.

I nodded, "Because we're involved too. We've got our own score to settle with those monsters. We're already tangled up in this mess. Like it or not, we're on the same side for now."

He narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean, exactly?"

"I mean, we'll be the ones fighting them. Not you or your master. If you let us in on the Relic's location, we'll take the fight to the Fallens. We'll be the ones in their way, not you."

He frowned deeply, "You'll fight them? Didn't you just say they're strong—Stage Four, even Dracula?"

"So what?" I said, "We're not helpless. We have a team built for this sort of threat"

"Oh? Then what if I want to join your team?" he asked.

I said without hesitation, "No."

He let out a heavy, exaggerated sigh, pressing the back of his hand to his forehead as if mourning some great tragedy. "That's disappointing, beauty… so very disappointing." His tone was mocking, but his eyes were thoughtful, calculating every word I said.

"Anyway, if I tell you where the Relic will appear… you and your team will handle those threats, and then what? We go after the Relic together? Is that what you're proposing?"

I nodded. "Yes."

He frowned, suspicion still lingering in his gaze. "What if you tried to take advantage of the situation and stole the Relic for yourself?"

But I shook my head, "It's impossible to use the Relic without both a Master and a Champion's connection. And so far… in our team, every Champion has already turned to a Fallen."

"Oh? OHHH?" The man's face changed as he finally grasped the full situation. He let out a low giggle, mocking. "I see… I see. So you lot just want your little toys not to hurt anyone else, huh?"

When he called them 'toys,' I felt a surge of anger, 'The fuck are you, then?' I wanted to snap back, but I bit down on the words, keeping my cool.

He nodded to himself a few more times, then spoke up. "Alright, let's make a deal. I'll tell you where it is, and your team lets us walk away. No interference."

I nodded. "Yes."

He nodded a few more times to himself, tapping his fingers against his side as he made up his mind. "Alright then. Let's make a deal. I'll tell you where it is, and your team lets us walk away clean."

I nodded again, sharper this time. "Yes. That's the agreement."

"Here," He gave me a playful wink, mischief in his eyes, and fished something from his pocket. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he tossed it through the rain. A small, white crystal orb arced toward me.

"This orb will hold the information. When I sense the Relic's emergence, the location and the exact time will appear inside. All you have to do is keep it with you and watch for the signs, alright?"

I caught the orb, feeling its cold, smooth surface against my palm.

"What's wrong?" he asked, noticing my hesitation.

I glanced up, still frowning. "Honestly? I thought you'd demand more—some kind of contract, or a magical binding, something that would force us both to honour the deal. I'm surprised you're willing to trust me with just this."

He grinned, shaking his head, a sharp laugh escaping him.

"Haha… oh, baby~ I don't need any of that. The thing you're up against?

It's either death, turning into a monster, or—if you're lucky—barely surviving with your mind and soul intact. And if you do end up barely alive, well… I can deal with that however I like. I have a knack for collecting broken things."

He gave me a mock salute, "Take care, sweetheart. Try not to become a monster, will you? Because if you do, I'll have to hunt you down too."

He vanished, his form swallowed up by the endless downpour, leaving only the faint echo of his laughter behind.

I stood alone in the rain, staring at the empty space where he'd disappeared, the orb clutched tight in my hand.

At least now I had a way forward.... a path!

It's fine.

Death… huh?

I tilted my head back, letting the icy rain sting my face, and watched as the clouds above churned and thickened, thunder rolling in deeper waves. The rain was coming down even harder now.

"Just what is that man really planning?" I wondered aloud, my voice lost beneath the thunder.

With one last look at the glowing orb in my palm, I turned away, forcing myself to focus on the next task!

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