The night broke.
Not with sound—
but with motion.
The sand behind Kharis surged like a living tide, slicing through the air in a razor storm.
Aurelion moved first.
Steel met sand.
CLANG—SHHHRR.
His blade intercepted the strike, sparks bursting where condensed grains scraped against metal.
The force pushed him half a step back.
Not heavy… but sharp.
Inner thought:This isn't normal sand. It's controlled. Directed.
"Iris—now!" Aurelion snapped.
"I know!"
Ice formed instantly above her palm—compressed, dense—
She fired.
A frozen mass tore through the air toward Kharis—
—but the assassin raised one hand.
Sand spiraled upward.
THUD.
Ice shattered.
Blocked.
Kharis didn't even move his feet.
Elayne was already there.
Blade low. Step silent. Precision clean.
She closed the gap and struck.
Kharis shifted sideways—
Too smooth.
Too light.
Elayne's eyes sharpened.
"Locked."
A faint glow wrapped around her blade as she activated her binding skill. Invisible force snapped into place, tightening around Kharis—
—or should have.
For a fraction of a second—
his body collapsed.
Into sand.
Elayne's pupils shrank.
"—What?"
The sand scattered—
then reformed.
Behind her.
Aurelion saw it.
"Elayne—behind!"
Too late.
Kharis struck.
Elayne crossed her arm and blocked with her gauntlet—
BOOM.
The impact hurled her backward across the dirt, boots carving lines into the ground before she stabilized.
Not injured.
But shaken.
Kharis raised two fingers.
Sand compressed—tight, thin, needle-like.
Then fired.
Fast.
Sharper than before.
Aurelion twisted aside—barely—
One shard grazed his shoulder.
Heat.
Pain.
He clenched his teeth.
"Tch—!"
Blood.
Just a little.
But real.
"Iris!"
"I SEE HIM!"
Ice spears formed in rapid sequence—three, five, seven—
She launched them all.
They struck—
Passed through.
No resistance.
No blood.
Nothing.
"...What?" Iris whispered.
Kharis appeared in front of her.
Instant.
Unseen.
His leg moved.
THUD.
The kick landed clean into her stomach.
Air left her lungs.
Her body lifted—
Then crashed into the ground.
"Iris!" Elayne shouted, regaining footing.
Kharis didn't pursue.
He stood still.
Watching.
Measuring.
Sand drifting slowly around him like a silent storm.
"You cannot cut sand," he said calmly."You cannot freeze what does not stay."
His golden eyes shifted to Aurelion.
"And you cannot run from a contract."
Silence.
Aurelion steadied his breathing.
Pain in shoulder.
Iris down—but conscious.
Elayne ready—but cautious.
Inner thought:His body isn't fully physical.Attacks pass through unless…
Unless what?
Kharis raised his hand again.
Sand gathered.
Denser.
Deadlier.
Next strike—
Would not be light.
The night held its breath.