Raze met up with Ella. He glanced at the man that she had made quick work of, then looked at her. "We have to go," he said, but as he took a step, several figures entered his range of God's Eye.

"Shit," he cursed.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Seems they have reinforcements."

Some figures formed from the shadows. Unlike the guards that had full armor, they looked more like rough mercenaries, with swords and long grins on their faces.

"Heheheh, blame yourself, kid, for taking what doesn't belong to you." One spoke with a voice that sounded raspy, his eyes were red and lifted in excitement. It was going to become a good payday for them once they got Raze.

"We can't take them all here," Ella said.

"Yeah, we need to get out," Raze said, and without pause, he wrapped his hand around her waist. She squeaked, looking at him in confusion and a face that was turning red.

"Hold on to me tight," he said before looking up into the sky and teleporting. She didn't expect it and let go out of fear, but he grabbed her tighter.

"Hold on," he said again as they appeared in the air. He looked down, seeing the faces of all the confused mercenaries. He teleported again, this time using God's Eye to pinpoint a straight-line location very far away.

When they appeared there, he finally let go of Ella, but she was so scared that she didn't let go herself.

"Uhm, we have gotten away," he said to her, snapping her out of her fear state. She immediately let go. "Sorry."

Raze turned around. He looked at the direction that they had come from. "It's very unlikely that they can chase us. Either way, we should find an inn and stay the night. We'll return to the academy tomorrow," he said. She nodded and followed him, but inside her mind was a mess.

'An inn? Together? Will he get only one room? Ahhhhhhh, why am I thinking that? Of course he'll get two rooms.' She shook her head, trying to get the thought out.

[.... ]

"Two rooms for the night." Raze slid two silver coins to the burly man behind the counter of the inn. The man grabbed the coins and brought out two keys, handing them to Raze.

"The last two rooms on the second floor," he said.

Raze took the key and handed one to Ella. She took the key, but there was a frown on her face that she couldn't hide. She was disappointed. She took the key and walked ahead.

'Why am I disappointed? Do I seriously want to sleep in the same room as him? Arghhhhh, I hate this, my head's a mess.'

Raze, on the other hand, followed behind. 'Something is definitely up with Ella, but I don't want to believe it is what I think it is. I might know how to read and solve problems, but I don't know how to handle something like this.

What do I do? Allow it to go on? Ignore it? Lean into it? No, I can't lean into it. What if I'm wrong? Tsk. Besides, I have a sanctuary to build and books to read. Hehe, that's my only goal.' Very quickly, he was done with the thoughts in his head.

They both got to their rooms and got in. A simple room with a bed, wardrobe, tables, and wash basin. It had an oil lamp on the wall, so Raze used his flames to light the wick. The soft warm glow began spreading through the room, aiding the light of the moon that was already seeping in.

He walked to the bed, lay down, and closed his eyes, entering the library immediately. There was work to be done, especially with the sword.

[... ]

Knock knock.

The knocking came from the door. The man from before still sat inside the same room he had met with the count. The light of the moon shone from behind him, outlining his frame. He didn't move after the knock came, just sat there, looking at the door, no motion, no speaking.

Knock knock.

It came again. This time, he lifted his hands slowly and placed them under his chin. "Come in, Count Liam," he spoke. The door slowly opened, and Count Liam walked in, heavy-footed as he dragged his feet along the ground.

He got to the chair opposite the man and sat down, daring not to look the man in the face.

"So you failed," the man spoke. "A little bird told me," he added, then dropped both hands to the side of the chair.

"I put my trust in you, and yet you failed me. Why is that?" the man asked.

"I'm sorry, my Lord, I gave everything I could, even down to my own property, but there was someone that outbid me," he said, shaking as he spoke.

"Hmmm, someone. Who is it?"

"It was a young boy. I don't know his name, but he was blonde, and not more than fifteen," he spoke quickly.

"Outbid by a child. How pathetic. And even after that, you still managed to allow this child to get away somehow."

"My Lord, I sent my standby mercenaries against the boy and he… he somehow escaped. But I swear, I'll do everything within my power to find him," he said.

"Too late, sadly. I gave you the chance and you blew it. Now the sword is gone, and you are hanging onto delusions that you can find it," the man said, then stood up. The count immediately flinched, looking at those blue eyes glowing in the night.

"Please, my Lord, I promise," he begged.

"No. Your family will suffer for your incompetence," he said, taking a step forward to leave. But when the count heard his family brought into the mix, he couldn't allow this. He rose to his feet, pulling out a dagger from his ring, and lunging at the man with reckless abandon.

If he could take the man down, then for sure he would be able to keep his family safe. The man turned his head. He saw the blade already about to enter his body, so he flicked his finger. There was a sharp light.

BAM!

The top half of the count exploded immediately, blood splattered around, ceiling, ground, everywhere. The man stood there, watching as the lower half of the count fell to the ground. He ran his fingers through his hair as the moonlight reached his face.

His blue eyes shined with a sinister light, his white long hair stained with blood. "Pawns are always so useless."

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