The deal was made, but the air remained thick with unspoken thoughts.
Seraphina examined the parchment in her hands, running her fingers over the Astral Empire's official seal. It was authentic—at least at a glance. That meant Rei was either telling the truth or was an exceptional forger.
Leon, cradled in his mother's arms, studied Rei carefully. She was too confident, too prepared. It wasn't just luck that brought her to them.
Seraphina seemed to share his doubts. "One last question," she said, her voice as sharp as ever. "How did you know we'd be here?"
Rei shrugged. "I didn't."
A blatant lie.
Seraphina's emerald eyes glowed slightly, her instincts screaming at her that there was more to this girl than she let on. But before she could press further, Rei grinned.
"We should move before sunrise. Blackfang Syndicate has eyes everywhere, and if they catch wind of me, things will get complicated."
Seraphina considered her words and then glanced at Leon. Traveling at night wasn't ideal, but avoiding unwanted attention was more important.
Finally, she gave a small nod. "We'll move in two hours."
Rei smirked. "I like the way you think."
-------
The three left Valefort under the cover of darkness, slipping past the town's outer walls with ease.
Leon remained quiet, observing everything from Seraphina's arms. Even as a baby, he could tell Rei was guiding them toward a specific route—one that likely wasn't on normal travel maps.
She's leading us somewhere.
The path they took wasn't the main road to Astralis. Instead, they cut through dense forests and winding backtrails.
Seraphina noticed it too. "Why aren't we using the main roads?"
Rei's crimson eyes flickered toward her. "Because they're being watched."
Seraphina's grip on her dagger tightened slightly. "By the Blackfang Syndicate?"
Rei chuckled. "Not just them."
Leon's mind pieced things together. If the Blackfang Syndicate was watching the roads, then either they expected Rei to pass through or someone else was after her.
Seraphina narrowed her eyes. "Who else?"
Rei hesitated.
Then she sighed. "The Astral Empire's enforcers."
A chill ran through the air.
Leon understood instantly. That changed everything.
The Blackfang Syndicate was one thing—but if the Astral Empire's enforcers were involved, that meant Rei's actions weren't just criminal…
They were political.
Seraphina stopped walking. "What did you steal?"
Rei exhaled and turned to face them fully.
"…A royal artifact."
Silence.
Even Leon, for all his experience, felt a flicker of surprise.
Seraphina's eyes turned dangerously cold. "You failed to mention that earlier."
Rei grinned sheepishly. "Would you have agreed to help me if I did?"
Seraphina's fingers twitched over her dagger, but Leon already knew the answer.
No.
Rei had played them.
Seraphina closed her eyes briefly before sighing. "…And what exactly does this artifact do?"
Rei hesitated.
Then, softly, she answered.
"It's called the Celestial Sigil. A key to something buried deep within Astralis."
Leon's mind immediately locked onto those words. A key. Not just any artifact—something with true importance.
Seraphina remained composed, but Leon could see the slight tension in her jaw.
Rei noticed too. "Look, I get it. You don't trust me. But if the enforcers catch me, they'll kill me. And if the Blackfang Syndicate catches me, well…" She smirked grimly. "They'll do worse."
Leon observed her closely. Despite the casual tone, her eyes were sharp. Calculating.
She wasn't just afraid of dying.
She was afraid of what would happen if the artifact fell into the wrong hands.
Seraphina let out another breath, then turned. "We keep moving. But if I find out you're lying about anything else—"
Rei held up her hands. "Understood."
Leon watched them both carefully.
This journey to Astralis was becoming more complicated than he expected.
And something told him…
It was only the beginning.