Karpeta’s smile lingered, soft and radiant.She looked… happy.Genuinely happy.That alone should’ve made Ethan feel something good.Instead—A cold weight dropped into his chest.“…I need a second,” he muttered.Before she could respond, he pulled away.Fast.Too fast.He grabbed his clothes, movements sharp, almost frantic as he dressed.Karpeta blinked, confusion flickering across her face.“…Ethan?”But he didn’t answer.Not properly.“I’ll be back.”And then he was gone.⸻He didn’t slow down once he cleared the edge of the clearing.Branches snapped underfoot as he pushed deeper into the forest, barely noticing where he was going. The further he went, the tighter his chest felt, like something was closing in on him from the inside.His mind raced—too fast to catch, too loud to ignore. Fragments of the moment replayed over and over. Her smile. The warmth. The way he hadn’t stopped.It tangled together into something he couldn’t sort out.He kept moving until the sounds of the cl

Right at that moment—Voices.Faint at first.Then clearer.“…Are you sure they’re here?”A pause.Then another voice, confident—“Yes. We tracked their scent. They’re close.”Ethan and Norka froze.Their eyes met instantly.Guards.Before either of them could react—“Karpeta?!”Her voice rang out, tense and sharp.“Ethan! Norka!”They didn’t waste another second.Both of them rushed back toward the cabin.⸻When they broke into the clearing—They stopped.The space was no longer theirs.Dozens of armored guards surrounded the area, their presence heavy and suffocating. Weapons caught the morning light, and the atmosphere had turned tense in an instant.Karpeta stood near the center, clearly overwhelmed.And in front of her—An older figure.Tall.Imposing.Radiating authority.The leader of the Parveja family.His gaze snapped toward Ethan and Norka the moment they arrived.Fury burned in his eyes.“What,” he said slowly, dangerously, “do you think you are doing?”Neither of them ans

He exhaled sharply through his nose. “…You are testing my patience.” Norka didn’t respond. Didn’t move. Didn’t look away. Finally— “…Fine.” Karpeta blinked. “…Fine?” A guard turned his head in surprise. “My lord—” “Enough,” the elder said. He looked back at them. “You will continue.” Relief flickered across Karpeta’s face instantly. Ethan’s grip on the orb in his hand loosened—just slightly. But the elder raised a hand. “On conditions.” The tone snapped the air back into place. Norka nodded immediately. “Of course.” “You will report the moment you are able.” “We will.” “You will not take unnecessary risks.” Karpeta nodded quickly. “We won’t.” “That was not a suggestion,” he added. “I understand,” she said. “And you will carry proper protection.” He gestured to one of the guards. “Bring them.” The guard stepped forward, presenting a small case. Inside— Several items rested carefully. The elder picked one up. A thin,

Just for a fraction of a second.But it was there.And everyone felt it.The kind of hesitation that only comes when instinct whispers something your pride doesn’t want to hear.A flicker.A doubt.Small—But dangerous.Karpeta folded her arms, glancing around with a crooked grin.“…Still want to make an example?”No one answered.One of the guards shifted his footing.Another tightened his grip—then loosened it again.But the circle didn’t break either.The lead guard’s jaw tightened.His pride dug in where his instincts faltered.“…Last chance.”Norka didn’t move.Didn’t blink.Didn’t breathe.“Then try.”The words hung there.Heavy.Provocative.Unmovable.One guard swallowed.“…Captain…” he muttered quietly.“Hold your position,” the captain snapped.Another guard whispered,“Something’s wrong…”“Nothing’s wrong,” the captain cut in. “They’re bluffing.”Karpeta tilted her head.“…You sure about that?”No answer.For a heartbeat—No one moved.The plaza itself seemed to pause.Then

Ethan noticed it immediately.“…Yeah,” he muttered quietly. “There it is.”Because the captain heard it too.The doubt.Not just about Norka—About all of them.About what they had just felt.And whether it had really been as absolute as it seemed.One of the guards shifted his weight.“…It didn’t feel like a bluff,” he whispered.“Then don’t think about it,” another snapped quickly. “You’ll just make it worse.”Karpeta let the silence stretch just a second longer.Then she smiled.Not wide.Not threatening.Just enough.“…You’re confusing mercy with limitation,” she said.The laughter faltered.Just a little.But pride is stubborn.One of them snorted.“Sure.”Another gestured loosely toward her.“Then why stop?”“Yeah,” someone added. “If you had us, why let go?”A third leaned slightly forward.“Lost control?” he suggested.“Or ran out of power,” another muttered.Karpeta tilted her head slightly.Considered him.Really considered him.Then—“…Because I felt like it.”Simple.Flat.