We were barely two yards away from the museum. It had to be around 4 or 4:30 a.m.—I could tell just by looking at the sky. Growing up close to nature and the mountains, I'd developed a sense for these things.
And yet… here I was, tense, worried about the battle we might face with the knights guarding the museum—and what were they doing?
Arguing about flowers.
"It's purple.""No, it's lavender.""Purple.""Lavender.""Purple!""Lavender!"
Are they serious right now?
I stared at them, dumbfounded. "Don't you two think we should be focusing on the knights instead of color palettes?" I said, exasperated.
Right as I spoke, Nara was about to unleash her Blood Carnation magic on the priest, who had already drawn his sword.
"Are they actually going to kill each other over a flower color?" I whispered to myself.
"We will win," the priest said confidently, his eyes fixed forward.
"We don't need a plan to beat them," Nara added.
"Why are you both so confident?"
"Because we will." They both smirked.
Nara finally drew her blood magic back into her veins with a playful grin. "Yeah… until your little beloved demon shows up."
"Even she can't defeat me," the priest replied sharply, though his ears turned red.
"Right, that's why she escaped, huh?" Nara teased, grinning. I swear, if I stared hard enough, I could see imaginary thunderbolts crackling between them.
"She escaped because I let her. I have my reasons," he said firmly.
"Oiii, 'I hovvve my reaaaasons~'," Nara mocked, puffing her cheeks and mimicking his tone. I burst out laughing.
"You didn't tell me you had a beloved!" I said, shocked.
"Yeah, a demon," Nara chuckled.
"A demon??"
"But I won't let her get away with anything next time. Now we just have to wait until sunri—"
"Don't change the subject!" Nara cut in. "We already discussed what we have to do before sunrise."
The priest looked like he wanted to disappear into the bushes. For the first time, he actually looked awkward.
"You are going to explain everything after this," I said, chuckling as I turned away.
.
.
.
The Clock is Ticking…
"We have to hurry. We don't have the luxury of time. In 45 minutes, the sun's ray will fall on that statue," the priest said urgently.
We were standing behind the museum, and I could feel it—even the weather seemed like something big was about to happen. The wind was shifting unnaturally, and the air felt heavy with mana.
"Typhon, don't forget—you have to break that statue. You'll only get the pendant if it shatters. Otherwise—"
"Otherwise what? Otherwise what?" I asked, my heart racing.
"If we fail to grab the pendant in time," Nara jumped in, "we'll have to wait till the next Summer Solstice."
Xavier tensed up. I could see it in his clenched fists.
"Xavier, don't get tense. We can do this." The priest turned to both of us, serious now. "We need to part ways. Xavier, you search for the statue. Nara, you'll go in through the front entrance. I'll take the back."
He pulled out two long, sharp daggers—the same ones he always used. But then, unexpectedly, he tossed one toward me with a soft, warm smile.
"Keep it. It'll help you."
"But… you'll need it more in the future."
"Don't worry. You taught me swordsmanship very well." He cupped my face gently. "I've fought many battles without any sword or dagger. I can handle this."
"Why are you flexing now? You're the one who told us we don't have the luxury of time," Nara snapped, arms crossed.
"Shut up, you ladyfinger! I hope you face an Upper Knight!"
"What did you just say?! Ladyfinger?! You?! I'm way stronger than you! If I ever fought an Upper Knight, I'd defeat them blindfolded, you dry apricot!"
Why… why are they fighting right now?! Did they grow up like this? How did I even manage them back then?
"Wait, wait!" I stepped between them, holding Nara with one hand and the priest with the other. "We don't have time for this. You're both strong. Now stop it—and Nara, stop looking at him with those dead eyes. And priest, at least show her some respect! She's a girl!"
"I don't consider her a girl," the priest said flatly.
I was about to laugh—until a wave of powerful mana slammed into my core. My knees hit the ground.
Even Nara and the priest went stiff, their eyes wide like they'd just sniffed poison.
"Nara… what is this?" I groaned, getting up slowly. "Even I can feel it."
"Run, my Lord," she said firmly, already transforming her blood into a blade. "Go find that statue. We'll handle this. Don't look back. Don't stop."
"But… why?! What just happened?!"
"Just remember—" the priest stepped forward, his voice calm, serious, but heavy, "—even if you don't have your full powers right now, some battles aren't won with strength. They're won with mind. And your mind… it's the same as it was back then, my Lord."
"BUT—"
"No buts. Nara, let's go. The Uppers are here."