As I turned, the only reason I didn't set the face on fire immediately was because I recognized it.

But before I could say his name, he covered my mouth and muffled my voice.

My brows drew together, questioning without words.

He pulled me deeper into the forest, away from the caravan, then climbed a tree and hauled me up with him. He was adept at it — I never would've managed without his help.

He settled onto a branch like it was home, folded his arms, and looked down at the caravan below.

'So that's how he saw me… but even Kassie didn't notice?'

Maybe there hadn't been any hostility from him. Still…

I focused on him first, glanced down at the caravan, then brought my eyes back to hold his green and red heterochromatic gaze.

"What happened here?"

Levi's expression turned bitter. He shifted his focus from the caravan below to me.

"It's a mess. What happened to you? Tristan and Nisha had gone searching."

I sighed, feeling chagrined.

"I was kidnapped. Knocked out and taken by that guy… What did you all call him again? Great Lion? White Lion?"

Levi's eyes froze for a moment, then he raised one corner of his mouth, though the bitterness remained.

"Looks like you have the worst luck. Right under our nose." He studied me. "That guy must be really competent. But you survived… again."

I tried to find a comfortable seat on the branch.

Futile.

"Fuck surviving. I want to live." The words came out harder than I intended, but I didn't take them back. "If my sustenance has to be vengeance after what these people have put me through in the past few days, I won't complain. I'm tired of running."

Having to run was a twisting ache in my throat. I had Tyrant Empress. Pyre Saint. I could demolish them all, set every last one of them on fire.

Tyrant Empress had even done it before.

At the same time, I understood. I understood too well that too much was at stake to choose that recklessness. And contrary to how powerful Kassie and Maggie could be, I was their weakness.

Me.

It was all me.

And unless I grew, there wasn't going to be revenge or living. I would only continue to… survive.

Which further reinforced my resolve not to go easy in training again. Perhaps I could start with complaining less.

I looked at Levi again.

"You've not told me what happened."

Levi sighed. "The caravan was attacked by the Holy Paladins and the Royal Navy. Information leaked that the Heretic was traveling with us. The Knights, the Paladins — they didn't believe our denials and demanded to search. But searching a caravan like this one carried too many risks, so Baroh Humstembuckles refused." His jaw tightened. "Which led to a showdown."

I glanced down at the devastation.

"You're saying the Kingdom let the church do this to its own people."

Levi shook his head.

"No. The Royal Navy is controlled by House Montfort, which oversees the Seacliffe duchy that Faeren Heights is part of. They're devout followers of the Eternal Sun." He paused. "But even they wouldn't have been able to cause damage this intense. We were attacked by another Spirit Beast."

Silence settled in my throat. I didn't even know what to say.

"An even greater number than the last?"

Levi shook his head.

"No. It was just one."

A strange cold spread through my whole body.

"Just one? One Spirit Beast, and even Tristan and you were unable to defeat it?"

Levi chuckled dryly.

"I'm a bloodline user. I'm pretty weak here, okay? Even you might be able to beat me…" He paused, studying me up and down, reconsidering. "Well. With enough training, I'm sure you can manage."

'Thanks for the vote of confidence.'

"Besides, Tristan and Nisha left immediately to find you. So they weren't part of the fight."

My gaze dropped for a moment, observing the devastated party below. I had to grip the branch — no matter how I tried to balance, it always felt like I could fall at any moment. The bark bit into my palms, rough and unforgiving.

Levi's voice came steady and direct.

"But this isn't about you. The people suffered because of a Spirit Beast…" He lingered on the words. "One that may still be in the forest."

His eyes sharpened with that last statement.

Then, just as quickly, he calmed and looked at me.

"Don't go back to the caravan. Go to Faeren Heights instead."

I frowned. "What about Tristan and Nisha?"

"I'm sure they're already tracing you back here." His tone was indifferent and certain.

He glanced at me one more time, like he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Instead, he slipped from the tree like water, landing soundlessly in a crouch. He looked up and gestured for me to follow.

I looked down at him, unconvinced I could manage the same. Besides, I had to be careful of my wounds. I put my leg down first, hugging the branch tight, making sure I'd reduced the distance as much as possible before letting go. The landing jarred through my bones — I nearly fell, but Levi's hand pressed against my back, steadying me.

He looked at me with a strange smile.

I frowned. "What?"

"Nothing." He shook his head, chuckling to himself as he walked forward. "Let's go."

I glanced back at the mess of a caravan, then belatedly followed him.

We continued forward for a while, walking through the forest until Levi finally stopped and pointed me toward the path ahead.

He looked me over from head to toe and sighed.

"Give me those rags."

I glanced down at my clothes, belatedly remembering how unpresentable I looked. Torn fabric hanging off me in strips, stiff with dried blood. I pulled them off — it was a struggle, the cloth sticking to wounds in places — but I eventually handed him what remained. My pale chest, smeared with blood and grime, shook slightly as the night cold bit into my bones.

He handed me his own clothes and regarded mine with open contempt.

Compared to him, I was barely a man. Levi's build had the kind of lean definition that came from years of actual use. I couldn't help the stab of jealousy — I was nineteen, but still.

'Give it more years. I'll put you to shame.'

I meant it.

I pulled on his clothes, which hung slightly oversized on my frame, then handed him my cloak. He wrapped it around himself underneath, then pulled his usual cloak over the top. The layering looked ridiculous.

At that moment, though, it wasn't funny.

All I could see was how far these people were willing to go to help me.

He pressed a wooden token into my hand and slapped my chest.

"Go up the cliff and enter the city. We'll catch up soon."

I hesitated, but his gaze sharpened and he pointed forward.

"Cade. That's the finish line. Go."

I exhaled heavily, glanced back, and lowered my head.

"Thank you… Boss."

Levi chuckled.

"Brat, I'm just doing my job. Now scram."

I put my legs to work and didn't look back again.

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