"So your family is important?"
She asked as she glanced at Isolde. Isolde, however, looked offended.
"Important?"
She took another sip from her vial, then—
"Naomi, my beloved innocent lamb, you stand before the future ruler of a Circle whose name has made Vampires reconsider their manners and Werewolves remember the value of negotiation."
Lord Whiskers yawned again, knowing exactly where this was going.
"The Blackthorn Circle does not knock on doors, doors open out of fear."
Lucian only gave the woman a flat look, then he completely ignored her and nodded at Naomi.
"Yes, they are important.
Especially their Matriarch."
"Matriarch?"
"Matriarch Maelis Verraine, she is one of the strongest Witches alive, capable of defeating a Young Wolf competing for the position of Alpha.
If given time to prepare, she could even hold her own against a proper Alpha."
Naomi blinked at that.
Lucian had told her how strong Alphas were. They were basically leaders of the Werewolves and considering Witches were technically only humans...
One being able to stand against an Alpha was... not a small feat.
Isolde only grinned at that—
"As expected of my Grandmother, her name is well known."
She nodded.
"It makes sense, as the only being who has the power to keep the seal on the Power of Chaos beneath me in check, it is only obvious that the world knows her."
Lucian sighed at that.
He knew half of what the girl said was bogus, but never in his mind did he underestimate her Grandmother.
Vivienne was very clear about that.
Witches were dangerous. He could, at one point, reach a level where he could proudly say he could defeat an Alpha, but a Witch Matriarch?
That was an entirely different story.
Repeating Vivienne’s words—
One could never be too careful around a Witch.
And Lucian, despite not having encountered a Witch before, was going to take her words very seriously.
"So why are you here?"
Lucian asked as he glanced at Isolde and once again, Isolde grinned and placed her hand over her mouth.
"I have come to seek the power that hides..."
The Witch continued and both Naomi and Lucian stared at each other with exhausted looks on their faces.
This was going to be a long Trial.
The group moved deeper into the maze with Naomi guiding them and both Lucian and Isolde trusting her.
"So, Mother of Dragons."
Isolde called as she took another sip, before her expression became grave.
"Should the seals upon my forbidden power ever weaken, do you possess the courage to end me before I erase all life from this world?"
Lucian considered the question seriously.
Then he shook his head.
"No."
Isolde frowned at that.
"You would allow the world to perish?"
"I would release my own sealed power and challenge you for the right to destroy it first."
Isolde stopped walking.
Her eyes widened.
Then she covered one of her eyes.
"At last."
Her voice trembled with emotion.
"A worthy rival."
Lucian nodded solemnly.
"Our battle will be legendary."
"It shall last seven days and nine nights."
"That doesn’t even make sense."
Naomi couldn’t help but point out.
"A being who doesn’t understand the concept of time wouldn’t understand."
Lucian only snorted, dismissing her, and Isolde nodded. Neither of them paid any more attention to her.
Isolde extended her flask towards Lucian.
"Until the day destiny forces us to stand on opposing sides."
Lucian touched his fist against it very seriously.
"Until then."
Naomi facepalmed and continued walking.
And as they walked, someone watched them from a few hundred metres away through an Artifact that looked like binoculars.
This someone was Sabine Rook, a Relic Hunter.
Sabine first noticed the two glowing circles on Naomi’s arm, then one on Isolde.
Three Waymarks.
And her eyes shone.
This was going to be easy.
The group ahead of her didn’t seem particularly strong either, however, they were quite fortunate, considering they didn’t activate any of the traps.
Unfortunately, the Trial was not a place for the fortunate.
It was a place for the competent.
And she—
She was going to take their fortune for herself.
With that thought in her head, Sabine’s eyes shone, then the moment Isolde took another sip, a thin blade slid from her sleeve and she dashed forward, covering the distance dangerously quickly without making any sound.
She extended her hand, reaching for Naomi’s arm, wanting to eliminate the one who seemed the most competent out of the three but—
Just as her hand was about to touch Naomi—
Lucian grabbed her wrist, pulled her forward, twisted her arm behind her back, and caught the hand holding the blade before she could use it.
"Aacckk!!"
Sabine couldn’t believe it.
"H-How did you..."
The boots she was wearing were an Artifact that didn’t make any sound when she moved. They shouldn’t even have known she was there, then how did he react as if he was waiting for her!?
"You should work on hiding your heartbeat."
Lucian chuckled softly.
"Well, your scent was very obvious as well."
Sabine’s body flinched at that.
Heartbeat...? Scent...?
What was he? A dog?
"You dare charge at the companions of Isolde Verraine?"
The Witch covered her mouth with her hand, her silver cards spread around her, and glowing threads slipped from between her fingers.
"Foolish thief, you have placed yourself before the Keeper of the Seventeen Seals, the Mistress of the Bound Moon, and the eternal jailer of creatures too dangerous for mortal chains!"
Then, before Sabine could move, Isolde’s enchanted threads wrapped around her wrists, waist, thighs, knees, breasts, and ankles before lifting her above the floor.
"You did that disturbingly quickly."
Lucian couldn’t help but comment as he stepped back and studied the way Isolde had tied her.
"It is a basic restraint spell."
"...right.
That looks completely academic."
He nodded, looking at the magical bindings wrapped around her.
"The Blackthorn Circle has spent centuries perfecting the art of capturing dangerous enemies."
"And I can see the results very clearly."
Lucian nodded.
As they talked, Sabine shifted her hips slightly, testing the threads around her waist.
"Stop that."
Isolde’s eyes moved towards her.
"Do they tighten if I struggle?"
"Yes."
"Good design."
Sabine smiled.
Isolde stared at her.
Sabine pulled one wrist again.
The threads contracted around her arms and body.
"Anh~"