Gunmage

—it would be rude not to greet them.

Lugh was somewhat puzzled by the words used. Guests? What sort of guests came barging in with their auras flaring like threats?

He didn't know what exactly was going on, but whatever it was, it wasn't looking good.

Before he could even ask, a figure—no, figures—emerged in the distance, closing in on them fast.

Isolde and her shadows came to a sudden halt as her eyes scanned the unusual composition of people just ahead.

Her gaze lingered on Siegfried for a few scant moments before moving on, settling sharply on Selaphiel.

She hurriedly stated,

"We have intruders, and they're too much for us to handle."

Lugh, Lyra, and Sela all picked up on the word intruder.

Sela looked stunned. Having never experienced such a thing in her life, it wasn't that they had never had "intruders" in the manor before.

After all the event with the beastkin still lingered fresh in her min.

It was that the kind that made their presence known with such force, the kind that dared, wasn't something she's ever seen before.

Lugh, on the other hand, wore a grim expression. It was as he had expected. There had always been a chance Selaphiel's plan was leading up to this.

Still, he had never anticipated that their hidden adversaries to become so bold, bold enough to step out of the shadowy corners where they lurked like wretches.

Every time he remembered the sensation of nearly being blown to bits, a phantom pain sparked somewhere deep in his chest. The memory still clung to his nerves.

It was high time he got some revenge.

Lugh hardened his gaze.

"Let's go."

He stepped forward, walking toward Isolde, but was pulled back by Selaphiel, who grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.

She frowned.

"What do you mean, 'let's go'?"

She chided.

He looked puzzled.

"But... intruders..."

"You're not going anywhere,"

She said flatly, the irritation in her voice just barely restrained.

She turned her attention to Lugh's stepmother, sweeping an arm across the space to indicate the group she referred to.

"Take them somewhere quiet. And safe. A parlour or something."

Isolde gave a short nod in affirmation, already understanding the implication. Selaphiel tapped her lip, then added,

"Oh, and call Jahira and Lance to guard them."

At this, Siegfried frowned. He stepped forward, his posture stiff.

"I might not know what's happening, but isn't that being too excessive? I mean... they're in the manor. What harm could possibly befall them?"

Selaphiel sighed, her mind racing to find words that would settle the matter in the shortest time possible.

"Well, if you'd taken the time to properly learn what's been happening, you'd know there have already been two assassination attempts on these very grounds—both leaving their targets within inches of death."

Siegfried's face darkened.

"What? Who? How?"

She answered immediately, without a beat missed.

"The victims, of course, were Lugh,"

She pointed directly at him,

"And his mother... Isolde."

Lugh frowned deeply.

She wasn't done.

"As for how it happened... well, your third branch is in charge of internal security. So really, I should be asking you."

The elf fell silent. But anyone observing closely would catch the flicker of fierceness and danger beneath his eyes.

Lugh wasn't focused on that, though. His mind was still processing something else entirely—the fact that Selaphiel had just benched him.

He protested.

"Why am I not allowed to go? I was the one almost killed. Doesn't it make sense for me to at least make an appearance?"

"No, it doesn't,"

She responded instantly. Her voice was flat as she gestured toward Isolde who looked a tad bit uncomfortable.

"If you would."

And just like that, they were led away.

Zhou, the tall elf from the Cross family, had decided to remain—not to fight, but at least to observe whatever confrontation was about to unfold. That left Lugh, Lyra, Sela, and Xhi behind.

No, not quite.

Selaphiel frowned, gaze narrowing before pointing to Xhi.

"Hey. You're coming with me."

Her distrust was plain now, put on full display.

It was obvious—she didn't want the strange woman anywhere near Lugh without also being present herself.

But as always, Xhi was... well, Xhi. It was incredibly difficult to get her to just agree along with anything.

The priestess tilted her head.

"Why?"

Selaphiel narrowed her eyes.

"Why what?"

"Why should I come along with you?"

"Seriously, we don't have time for this."

"I'm not leaving until you give me a reason,"

Xhi finalised, her tone as placid as ever while the other elves—namely, Siegfried and Seraphina—watched with growing suspicion.

Who on earth was this human? Why did Selaphiel speak to her like an equal? How did she know about—?

It was odd, to say the least. And though they had yet to voice it, their unease was obvious.

Selaphiel pondered for a moment before offering something in exchange.

"Well... I'll add in an extra question, for free."

There was silence. It took a while for Lugh to figure out what exactly she was talking about. But then he remembered the strange deal xhi had made earlier.

The priestess meanwhile, gave a simple nod.

"Okay."

And just like that, they were gone with the wind.

It didn't take long to reach their destination: a large, open-air courtyard far beyond the main gates.

The stationed guards didn't even try to stop them. They couldn't—not in their wildest, most exaggerated dreams.

These were personalities far above their pay grade. Instead, they stood aside, swallowing down their instinctive awe and suppressing any urge to cheer simply due to Selaphiel's presence.

Selaphiel turned her gaze to the intruders.

They were dressed in a variety of garbs, some armored, others robed, but her eyes locked onto the one detail that mattered—the armbands.

It was made of pitch black fabric, one that had a perfect jade-colored cross embroidered in the center.

"The Enforcers"

She muttered, fully aware of her own ties to that very same organization.

Their sudden arrival had caught the "intruders" off guard.

The enforcers had fully prepared for a violent confrontation with Selaphiel. But they had no idea that the other two were around

The Wind God.

Someone murmured the title under their breath, then audibly gulped. The earlier bravado they had barged in with evaporating like distilled liquor.

Even so, they remained firm in their mission.

The leader of the group, a tall man with cropped black hair and pointed ears that marked his elven heritage, stepped forward.

"Lady Selaphiel Von Heim,"

He spoke clearly,

"A formal accusation has been made against you regarding the practice of dark and forbidden arts. In our capacity as Enforcers of the Jade tower, we have been officially dispatched to conduct an investigation"

His voice was smooth and calm. It lacked the usual booming authority one would expect from a proclamation of that sort.

Selaphiel, however, did not take it as courtesy.

"And for that, you had to barge into my territory? Do you not value your lives?"

The air thickened with unspoken tension.

Selaphiel wasn't stupid. Judging by the composition of this team—two royal guards, three church clergy, most of them elves—it was obvious they hadn't come here with diplomacy in mind.

Had Siegfried and Seraphina not shown up unexpectedly, she was certain they'd already be attempting a forceful inspection.

The elven squad leader, a man who was amongst the most competent in the kingdom, wiped a bead of sweat from his brow before speaking again.

"We extend our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience that may arise. A serious complaint has been lodged, and it is therefore our duty to proceed with an immediate investigation. This directive comes straight from the leader of the Jade tower, his royal Highness, the King of Ophris"

The others tensed at the mention of that name.

Seraphina glanced sideways at Selaphiel, waiting to see how she'd respond. Siegfried stood motionless, his cold, steady gaze unshakable—and deeply unsettling.

Eventually, Selaphiel exhaled a quiet breath. But her expression was not what they expected. A smirk crept onto her lips.

"Fine. You may inspect as you like."

The Enforcers exchanged wary glances.

A significant portion of their strength had been mobilised for this mission. There were even more forces hidden beyond the estate walls, quietly observing.

Even if the Von Heims turned on them, they were confident they'd survive long enough to either send a signal or hold out for reinforcements.

If that happened, the Jade Tower would come crashing down with everything it had.

That was the confidence of the elves.

The humans, however—those present among the Enforcers—were already terrified. They had seen more than one elf from the Von Heim family arrive. And that alone was enough.

Still, none of that showed on their faces. Their bodies remained still. Their expressions unreadable. But the inner turbulence only grew stronger when their leader uttered his next words:

"Our primary target for inspection is the mage Lugh. We require the presence of the young Von Heim. Bring him to us."

Selaphiel's expression darkened once more.

Her suspicions surging.

A/N: Schoolwork might delay updates but I'll try to be more consistent