Noah walked into the hall, both Arlo and Lady in Dark staring at him in shock, not just because of his presence but also his new rank.
He took in the room in a single sweep. The ritual circle was still glowing beneath Cecilia. The scattered bodies of the Reunifiers at the outer ring. The two golden daggers in Arlo's hand.
And of course, Lady in Dark standing at the center of it all with an expression he hadn't seen on her before.
Shock.
His eyes moved to Arlo and he noticed the change in the man's mana signature.
"S-rank," he said. "You've been busy."
Arlo said nothing, but something shifted in his expression.
Lady in Dark recovered first. "How did you find me?" The surprise hadn't fully left her voice.
"Tracking spell," Noah said simply. "On Cecilia. I placed it on her when I returned."
He crossed the room towards Cecilia, crouching beside her, checking her breathing.
She was still alive and unchanged, as far as he could tell. He straightened.
He turned to Arlo.
