Leora POV
Leora stood on top of a broken skyscraper.
She narrowed her eyes.
From this height, she could see the entire sector clearly.
Isaac and the others had gathered at the area near the border of the stronghold.
Their movements were clear to her despite the distance.
Behind her, someone landed softly on the rooftop.
Leora didn’t need to turn to know who it was.
Catherine walked over with light steps.
Her segmented sword hung loose, partially extended in its whip form, still dripping with fresh blood.
Blood stained the edges of her coat and streaked across one side of her face, but she was smiling like nothing was out of place.
“It was just as we predicted,” Catherine said casually. “The moment Isaac stepped out of the stronghold, the assassins came.”
Leora turned her head and frowned at the sword. “Did you find out where they’re from?”
Catherine shook her head and pulled her sword back into its compact shape. “No. They all self-destructed the second I tried to interrogate them seriously.”
“So it’s the same as last time?” Leora’s frown deepened.
“Exactly the same. Death Blood Flower in the corpse. Rations. And this.”
She reached into her coat and tossed Leora a small, flat object.
Leora caught it.
A black badge. Engraved on its surface was was an emblem of a snake coiled around a sword.
“They really don’t want to leave behind any trail,” Leora muttered.
Catherine nodded. “This group—or organization—came out of nowhere the moment we started exploring Akaza Ruins. They’ve tried to sabotage us at every turn. They seem hell bent on taking the Akaza Ruins, and this city from us.”
“They’ve gone after high-talent Awakeners too,” Leora added. “Cutting off potential before it grows.”
“Whoever they are, they’re dangerous. Efficient. And clearly well-funded.” Catherine said, wiping her blade clean on a scrap of cloth,”
Leora thought back to the girl from before.
Mara.
The one who built Isaac’s house and was found colluding with the assassins.
“She didn’t have a self-destruct skill like these guys, did she?”
Catherine’s expression dimmed. “No. But she killed herself before we could get anything useful out of her. If she hadn’t, we wouldn’t have to waste time chasing these assassins.”
Leora nodded silently.
Then she looked back at Catherine’s face again.
“Why haven’t you wiped the blood off?”
Catherine blinked and touched her face. “Oh. I didn’t realize it was still there.”
Leora sighed. “You should be able to take care of assassins cleanly. How’d you end up covered in this much blood?”
“It wasn’t from the fight,” Catherine replied simply. “It was from when I was trying to get information out of one of them.”
“You said they exploded when you tried to interrogate them. That’s means the blood comes from when you were fighting— inflicting injuries on them.” Leora crossed her arms. “When will you stop enjoying torturing people?”
Catherine smiled.
She said nothing.
“At least clean up before we meet back with the others.” Leora sighed and turned away.
“Fine, fine.” Catherine wiped her face with a cloth, barely trying.
The blood came off in streaks, staining her glove.
Once done, they moved.
Leora jumped first, leaping from the edge of the building and landing on the next structure without a sound.
Catherine followed immediately.
They dashed across rooftops, crossing broken beams and shattered steel at breakneck pace.
The ruined skyline flashed past them, rooftops vanishing behind as they closed the distance.
In just a few minutes, they reached the border of the stronghold.
The others were already gathering.
Isaac stood in the center of the group, surrounded by the rest—Vax, Broon, Renji, Thalia, and a few others.
Professor Ren was near the back, floating the massive corpse of the Molten Bullhorn with telekinesis, guiding it gently along the path like a balloon made of stone and heat.
Leora landed beside them and slowed her steps.
Professor Catherine stepped up behind her.
Isaac turned toward them.
“Welcome back. You guys were gone for quite a bit of time.”
“We had some work.”
By the time they reached Isaac’s house, the sun had begun to dip behind the crumbled skyline.
Golden light fell across the cracked stones and broken roads.
The 4th-year students were getting ready to leave.
Some were stretching tired limbs. Others were already walking toward the door.
Even Kael, the Illusionist Mage and team leader of opponent team, still clearly annoyed about losing to a first-year, was preparing to go without a word.
“You all should stay for dinner,” Professor Catherine spoke.
The words caught them mid-step. Kael stopped and turned around slowly.
“Will that be okay?” he asked, expectant.
“Of course. We’d be happy to have you. Besides, Leora’s a good cook.”
Leora, who was about to enter the house, froze mid-step.
She turned her head slowly and stared at Catherine.
Cooking for this many people was no small task.
Catherine pretended she to not notice Leora’s gaze. She smiled pleasantly.
Everyone else did notice, but they seem hesitant to refuse the offer.
Leora let out a slow breath. “It’s no problem.”
“I’ll help,” Isaac said, stepping forward.
That was enough to trigger a chorus of voices.
“I can chop!”
“I’ll set the fire!”
“I’ll carry water!”
Everyone moved at once, throwing themselves into the task like their lives depended on it.
The subtle pressure leaking from Leora had been growing more dangerous by the second.
Helping in the kitchen was less about generosity and more about self-preservation.
“I can handle it myself,” Leora tried again, though less firmly this time.
Kael stepped up, hands raised. “Absolutely not. Please, let us help.”
And so they did.
Renji took over butchering the Molten Bullhorn meat. Freya, Isaac and Professor Catherine dealt with the poison in the meat.
Isaac wasn’t bothered about the meat.
He’d planned to eat it, sure, but sharing it didn’t cost him much.
The academy already gave him high-grade meals every day. Throwing a feast without spending a coin of his own wasn’t a bad deal.
Thalia joined Leora in the kitchen, preparing sauces and other essentials.
Zeke cut the vegetables.
Broon crouched near the outdoor stove, building a proper fire after setting his hand on flames with Fire Fist skill.
The rest joined in where they could. Fetching tools, setting tables, grinding ingredients.
Professor Ren approached Isaac.
Several sealed crates of Molten Hornbull parts floated behind him.
“I’m off to sell these before the shops close,” he said.
Isaac walked over. “Thanks for taking them to the shop for me.”
“Think of it as repayment for the antidote. And I’m good at moving things. Telekinesis makes me a natural delivery service,” Professor Ren gave a casual shrug.
He smiled, then left, the crates gliding silently behind him.
Not long after, a notification blinked across Isaac’s device.
[Deposit Received: 3,000,000 Obols]
[Balance: 14,601,789 Obols]
He stared at the number for a moment before tucking the device away.
Just as he was returning, he noticed someone slipping past the doors.
Freya.
She moved quietly. Not running, just leaving, as if she had somewhere she needed to be.
Professor Catherine appeared beside him.
“She’s going to talk to Tyr.”
Isaac turned toward her.
“She found out he was upset. That he blamed himself for her getting hurt. She wants to tell him it wasn’t his fault, and that accidents like that happen in combat training.”
Isaac watched the crops sway gently as Freya approached Tyr.
“Now,” Catherine said, “Isn’t it time you thank me?”