Lina's blade cut through empty air.
Alex stepped inside the opening.
His katana moved in a tight arc. Steel scraped against Lina's guard as she twisted her wrist and deflected the strike.
Her recovery came fast.
Too fast for someone whose emotions had just been shaken.
She retreated two steps, resetting her stance.
Alex watched her carefully.
The brief disturbance from the Emotion node had worked—but only for a moment. Lina's control returned almost immediately.
A trained assassin.
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
Her sword came again.
Alex blocked.
The impact ran through his arms.
The headache behind his eyes pulsed harder.
He couldn't push the node again so soon.
Across the road, Kael's hammer crashed into another Ironfang Wolf.
The square steel head shattered the creature's shoulder and drove it into the dirt.
Two wolves circled behind him, claws scraping the road.
Kael adjusted his stance, keeping the merchant behind him.
"Stay low!" he barked.
The merchant crouched beside the cart wheel, hands gripping the wood.
Another wolf lunged.
Kael swung upward this time.
The hammer caught the beast under the jaw and launched it backward across the path.
The forest filled with snarls and the heavy rhythm of steel striking bone.
Alex had no time to watch.
Lina closed the distance again.
Her sword slid toward his throat.
Alex stepped sideways and deflected the blade.
The illusion technique flickered briefly across his Qi channels.
A slight distortion.
Nothing dramatic.
Just enough to shift the perception of distance.
Lina's next strike cut slightly wider than intended.
Alex countered immediately.
His katana snapped forward in a short thrust.
Lina twisted away.
The tip sliced across her sleeve.
Cloth tore.
She stepped back again, eyes narrowing.
The timid girl from earlier was completely gone now.
Only the assassin remained.
"You adapted quickly," she said quietly.
Alex didn't answer.
Her gaze flicked briefly toward Kael.
The wolves still surrounded him.
He had already killed three.
But two more circled the cart.
The road remained blocked.
Lina shifted her stance again.
"You shouldn't have noticed."
Alex raised his blade.
"You shouldn't have tried."
For the first time, a faint smile touched her lips.
Then she moved.
The strike came faster than before.
Alex barely caught the blade.
Steel screamed as the weapons slid against each other.
Lina pivoted and kicked toward his ribs.
Alex stepped back.
The movement broke the clash and reset the distance.
The pressure behind his eyes grew worse.
The Emotion node pulsed faintly again.
Too soon.
If he forced it again, the backlash would hit harder.
He needed another opening.
Lina attacked again.
Her sword moved in tight, efficient cuts designed to force him backward.
Alex blocked twice.
The third strike slipped through his defense.
The blade sliced across his upper arm.
Pain flared.
Lina pressed forward immediately.
Alex stepped back again.
Then he triggered the illusion technique once more.
The shift appeared directly in front of her vision.
A small distortion.
His body seemed half a step to the right.
Her sword followed the false movement.
Alex stepped left.
His katana struck downward.
Lina blocked the attack—but the force pushed her back this time.
She landed lightly, resetting her footing.
Behind them Kael roared as another wolf lunged toward the merchant.
The hammer slammed down again.
Bone shattered.
Only one Ironfang Wolf remained now.
The creature circled cautiously, yellow eyes flicking between Kael and the cart.
Kael advanced slowly.
The wolf retreated.
Then it bolted into the trees.
Silence returned to the forest road.
Kael lowered the hammer and turned.
His eyes moved from Alex—
—to Lina.
Lina still held her blade ready.
"Why?"
Lina didn't answer.
Her gaze remained fixed on Alex.
The brief distraction was enough.
Alex stepped forward.
His katana moved in a fast horizontal strike.
Lina blocked—but Kael had already crossed half the road behind her.
The hammer rose.
Lina noticed the movement too late.
She broke the clash with Alex and spun away just before the hammer crashed into the ground where she had stood.
Stone cracked under the impact.
Dust rose from the road.
Her hand moved instantly.
A small pellet struck the ground.
Smoke burst across the road in a thick grey cloud.
The forest path vanished behind the curtain.
"You noticed my attack even before i attacked, When you weren't even suspicious of me. "
"It seems you are full secrets, nothing like the rumours"
Then she turned and ran.
Alex tightened his grip on the sword frowning, Cautiously looking at the smoke.
After a moment, Kael reacted instantly. realising she might have escaped.
The hammer lifted as he prepared to go into the smoke.
Alex raised a hand.
"Don't."
Kael stopped.
"She tried to kill you."
The headache behind his eyes finally surged.
"Yes."
Alex watched the trees where Lina had disappeared then looked back at kael squinting, still alert & cautious.
The man had fought the wolves without hesitation.
Protected the merchant.
Then rushed to help him the moment the fight changed.
Nothing about his actions suggested betrayal. yet, he prioritiezed the mission over my life.
But the assignment itself had been arranged by the house.
And someone inside that house had sent an assassin.
Alex looked away from Kael and back toward the forest.
Trust would be a mistake.
For now, everyone was a possibility.
Even seeming allies.