Inside the Heindal Continent, which was undergoing a series of changes—the merging of several kingdoms into one, the advancement of the entire continent due to the presence of artifacts, and the presence of strong individuals—the trend of swordsmanship was predominantly associated with the Reinguard family.
One of the places that transformed significantly over the past five years was situated once at the edge of Selvius kingdom, notorious for criminals and illegal activities, now turned into a town filled with merchants and several small inns.
At the edge of this town, where a tattered and broken orphanage once stood, now rises a sturdy, well-structured building.
It may not be a marvel of architecture, but it’s a far cry from what was there before. The stone walls are solid, and the large windows let in plenty of sunlight, making it feel warm and inviting.
The roof is covered with simple yet neat tiles, and there’s a small, well-kept garden that adds a touch of charm.
The wooden door at the entrance, with its intricate carvings, gives the place a welcoming feel, suggesting that this is a place of care and comfort for the children inside.
But today, it appeared different from its usual presence due to several white-cloaked men standing around the place.
Their attire resembled that of assassins, with visible daggers at their waists.
Their fluttering clothes revealed their stance—postures indicative of veterans, with each of their energy levels appearing strong enough to be considered elites—while standing on the roof, ground, and surrounding the entire premises.
In one of the rooms, four figures were present: a man and a woman seated on chairs on opposite sides of a desk, another woman of the feline race casually standing with her back against a nearby drawer, and finally, a white-cloaked figure wearing a mask of the same color standing behind the man.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Miss Amayara for safeguarding my brother thus far.” The man, with raven-black hair and crimson eyes, revealing his identity as a member of one of the strongest races—the vampires—stood slightly bowed before the woman looking at him with her black eyes and hair.
He wore black pants and a half-coat, with a military-ranked long trench coat draped over his shoulders.
The room was filled with a clear tension emanating from both Bella and the man standing behind the seated figure who had just bowed, each trying to intimidate the other while appearing completely casual and uncaring about the situation.
“Please don’t be, Young Master Keith. Aphos has been here since early childhood, and it was the director who played the major role,” Amayara shook her head, observing the man in front of her. He appeared elegant and of high nobility, more like royalty.
But here he was today, in search of his brother, Aphos, who was also the right-hand man of her sister, Arvi.
Due to the absence of the Sword Maiden for a few weeks, the presence of someone this strong and the tension of the meeting was alarming enough to bring Bella here. Yet, if a battle occurred, the result would be devastating.
Though she could see only genuine emotions and gratitude from this man for his brother but faking once expressions wasn’t new to her.
“Miss Amayara, I comprehend that my presence alongside my esteemed colleagues may have been somewhat excessive, for which I sincerely apologize.” Keith’s eyes, though fixed on the woman in front of him, scanned the hundred-mile radius of the place for any strong presence nearby. His face, completely spotless and considered very handsome, appeared even more composed.
“It’s appreciable that the Young Master is aware,” Amayara replied in a clear tone, unfazed by the intimidation presented by this man and his entourage, who had arrived without prior notice, breaking the rules set by the Sword Maiden forbidding outsiders from infiltrating with an army.
But there was little she could do, given the lack of advantage in this situation where several children were present inside the orphanage binding her hand to take any actions.
‘How intriguing,’ Keith thought, his calm eyes slightly widening at hearing such a tone from a human female. He observed her closely—the calloused hands, the visible cut marks near her neck and arms where her sleeves were rolled up—these things revealed her to be a hardworking warrior.
Naturally, after detecting the presence of one of his brothers, he rushed over here without thinking much about the complications his presence would cause in a foreign continent. But now it appeared he was witnessing something very interesting.
A woman, who appeared to be at peak EPIC at best with strength not exceeding Phase I, seemed this brave to speak so frankly despite the strong bloodcore presence emanating from him.
It was the first time Keith had seen such a strong-willed woman.
“Miss Amayara, if I may, would you be so kind as to accompany me and guide me through this place? I wish to see where my brother lived.” Keith, intrigued, wanted to converse more with this woman who, despite being human, appeared uncaring of his presence. Noticing the subtle, calm eyes of both women, he, for the first time, doubted his facial features.
Naturally, even for humans, he was considered very handsome and attractive to most women he had ever encountered. But today, it seemed he had found something different in this corner of the continent.
“Young Master, if you wish, I would appreciate it, but after that, you will need to leave this place.” Amayara, placing her hand on the desk, slowly rose from her position, with Bella also straightening up, her folded hands loosening. Looking towards Keith, Amayara further added, “Also, you can’t take Aphos from here. He is our family.”
Amayara firmly stated, looking towards the man who narrowed his gaze. The white-masked figure behind him took a step forward, prompting Bella to reciprocate and release a dense aura resembling that of a panther beast.
‘A soul beast,’ Keith observed. The beastly aura emanating from Bella revealed her present strength but was still not strong enough to threaten him. He lifted his hand and gestured for the man behind him to stop.
“It seems I will need to abide by Miss Amayara’s words.” Keith formed a smile before standing and moving towards the door while both women kept their vigilance, prompting him to clarify, “Please, don’t be tense. I just want to visit this place before leaving, if you, Miss Amayara, would oblige.”
“I understand,” Amayara said, rising from her place. Prioritizing the safety of the children present, she tried to deal with the situation at hand. She nodded before moving ahead, with Bella following her.
‘…this smell,’ Keith thought suddenly. As Bella passed by him, an intense scent, presumably from a human male, dominated his own pheromones—a surprising occurrence, given his own dominant presence.
The major issue was that the smell emitted from Bella wasn’t hers but belonged to a male.
Unbeknownst to Keith, the scent on Bella was from a perfume once sold all over the Selvius Kingdom by the then Crown Princess.
This particular smell, which had once driven Bella away, now served as a string keeping her grief and shattered heart intact.
