The deeper we went into the estate, the stranger everything felt.

At first, I chalked it up to tension, the lingering effect of forcing my way past the wards, the echo of magic still humming in my bones.

My surroundings felt suffocating and I tried to relax. But despite my best efforts, it was useless. Something still felt strange about the place we currently were in.

Fenrir slowed beside me.

"…Shopkeeper."

He murmured.

I stopped as well.

"What is it?"

His ears twitched, nose lifting as he inhaled carefully.

"We've been here before."

I frowned and glanced around. The corridor looked identical to the last three we'd passed, same pillars, same curve in the hall, same distant echo of our footsteps.

"That's not possible."

I said automatically.

But even as I said it, I felt it too.

There was some force that was trying to tell me that I was making a mistake here. I was going through the same place again and again.

Fenrir looked at me.

"We passed that pillar already. Twice."

I exhaled slowly.

"I know. I noticed it a while ago."

I admitted.

His eyes widened.

"Then why didn't you say anything?"

"Because I wanted to be sure."

I stepped forward and placed my hand against the wall. The subtle hum of power under my hand made me shiver.

But I also quickly found what I was looking for in there.

"So that's how it is…A layered illusion."

I muttered.

Fenrir growled softly.

"They're trying to trap us."

"Someone wants us to keep moving though the same place again and again. How annoying."

I corrected Fenrir before I straightened and closed my eyes.

The world around me wavered as I reached inward, past the surface of things. The illusion wasn't aggressive, but it was annoying with the way it was making me move.

Unfortunately for whoever designed it, subtlety no longer worked on me.

"Break."

I whispered.

Power surged outward and the air cracked with power..

The corridor warped violently, the walls rippling like water before shattering into fragments of light. A shockwave tore through the hall as the illusion collapsed, the false pathways disintegrating into nothingness.

I staggered as the backlash hit me.

[Faith Points consumed.]

I clenched my teeth, steadying myself.

The world snapped back into place, only now, we were standing in a vast open courtyard surrounded by towering stone walls. Torches flared to life all at once, bathing the area in harsh orange light.

And then the alarms began.

A deep, blaring sound echoed through the estate, vibrating through stone and bone alike.

Fenrir stiffened.

"That… doesn't sound good."

Footsteps thundered from every direction.

Guards poured into the courtyard, dozens of them, fully armored, weapons raised, magic flaring around their bodies. Their expressions ranged from wary to outright hostile.

"Intruder! Stand down immediately!"

One of them shouted.

I raised my hands slowly, palms open.

"I'm not here to fight. I need to speak with Duchess Isabella."

I said calmly.

That earned me laughter.

"Like hell you do. You forced your way past the wards and shattered a barrier. You're lucky we don't cut you down where you stand."

Another guard snarled.

Fenrir stepped forward, positioning himself slightly in front of me. His fur bristled, low growl rumbling in his chest.

"Careful. You don't want to do this."

He warned them.

Several guards flinched at the sound.

I sighed.

"Listen, I don't want to hurt anyone. I'm here because the Duchess took something that belongs to me. I just want to talk."

I tried again.

"Lies! Disarm yourself and kneel!"

Someone barked.

"I'm not armed."

I said flatly.

They advanced anyway.

That was when I knew talking was pointless and I closed my eyes for a brief moment.

"…Alright."

Fenrir glanced at me.

"You're done being nice."

"More like they are."

The first guard lunged.

Fenrir moved instantly.

He slammed into the man with terrifying speed, knocking him off his feet before he could even swing his weapon. The impact sent the guard skidding across the stone floor.

The others hesitated, just for a second.

That was all it took.

I stepped forward, dodging a blade aimed at my neck. My hand caught the attacker's wrist, twisting sharply. His weapon clattered to the ground as he cried out.

"I warned you."

I muttered.

Magic surged through my veins as I shoved him back. He flew several meters before crashing into another guard.

Fenrir tore through the front line like a storm. He was extremely careful to not kill anyone. But anything other than that was a free game for him.

"Fall back!"

"Hold the line!"

"They're too strong, !"

One guard tried to flank me from behind.

Fenrir was there instantly.

A low snarl. A blur of motion.

The man froze mid-step, sword clattering from numb fingers as Fenrir loomed over him, teeth bared inches from his face.

"Don't."

Fenrir warned quietly.

The guard dropped to his knees.

Around us, the rest hesitated.

Their formation crumbled.

I exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of exhaustion creeping in.

"Enough. I don't want to fight you. But I will not leave."

I said firmly.

Silence fell.

The guards looked at one another, uncertainty written across their faces. None of them wanted to be the next one to test their luck.

The command cut through the courtyard like a blade.

"Stand down."

Every guard froze.

The air itself seemed to pause, tension snapping tight as a bowstring. I felt it before I saw her, the shift in presence, the sudden pressure that made the hairs on my arms rise.

The guards turned as one.

She stepped forward from between them, unhurried, her boots clicking softly against stone.

She looked like Duchess Isabella, but she wasn't the lady. I had a feeling she was a relative or something of that sort.

A guard swallowed nervously.

"L-Lady Ruby… what are you doing here?"

So that was her name.

Ruby's eyes flicked to him, cool and assessing.

"I came to see why the wards were triggered. I did not expect to find this level of incompetence."

She said calmly.

The word hit harder than any blow.

The guards straightened immediately, shame coloring their faces.

"We were doing our best, my lady. The intruder broke through multiple barriers…"

One of them said quickly.

"Excuses. This estate is protected by generations of magic. And yet, a single man stands here unrestrained."

Her voice was soft, but it cut deeper than a shout.

Her gaze shifted to me and for a moment, I felt like I was being weighed.

"My apologies. It seems our security has grown lax."

She said coolly, though her tone held no regret.

Then she turned back to the guards.

"Stand down. I'll handle this myself."

A ripple of shock moved through them.

"M-My lady, you don't need to, "

"I said stand down."

The command carried weight this time.

They obeyed immediately, stepping back and lowering their weapons, though none of them looked happy about it. Their eyes followed her with unease.

Ruby rolled her shoulders once, slow and deliberate.

Then she drew her sword.

The blade gleamed as it cleared its sheath, humming faintly with restrained power.

I exhaled slowly.

"Fenrir, be extra careful with her."

I murmured.

He was already tense, hackles raised, golden eyes locked on her.

"She's dangerous. Not like the others."

He growled.

"I know."

Ruby lifted her blade, pointing it directly at me.

"You are trespassing on noble land. You have shattered wards, injured guards, and disrupted the peace of this estate. I don't care who you are or what you want. You will leave."

She said calmly.

"I'm not here to fight you. I only want to speak to the Duchess."

I replied evenly.

Her lips curved slightly.

"You are talking to the future duchess and I have decided I don't want to talk to you. Now, repent for your actions."

I frowned.

Before I could respond, she moved.

There was no warning.

One moment she was standing still, the next she was right in front of me, sword flashing toward my throat.

Fenrir reacted instantly.

A translucent barrier erupted between us, humming with dense energy as her blade slammed into it.

The impact echoed through the courtyard, sparks flying as magic clashed against magic.

The force of it sent a shockwave outward.

I stumbled back a step, heart pounding.

Fenrir snarled, muscles tensing as he poured power into the barrier.

Ruby's eyes widened, just a fraction.

"…Interesting."

She pressed harder, her sword biting into the barrier, sending cracks rippling through its surface.

"You're shielding him? A familiar with that much autonomy? How rare."

She asked Fenrir, almost amused.

Fenrir bared his teeth.

"Back off. I am not a familiar."

She laughed softly.

"And here I thought you were just a beast."

She twisted her wrist and pulled back, then struck again, faster this time. The barrier shuddered, light fracturing across it like glass under strain.

I felt it too.

The drain.

[Faith Points decreasing.]

"Tch."

What an annoying lady I had come across.

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