Rubayd and Lerius arrived in a panic at what had been reported as a burning building, only to discover, to their utter shock, nothing more than a mound of ashes. Not a single flame remained. Everything had already been extinguished.
Both men stood there, frozen, completely at a loss.
Then a distant scream tore through the silence, snapping them out of their confusion. Leyla's voice echoed across Vulkania, shouting for anyone who could hear her:
"NEZRA IS THE SHOOTER! I REPEAT, NEZRA IS A TRAITOR!"
At those words, Rubayd reacted in less than a heartbeat. He understood immediately—Aphroa's life was in immediate danger.
He sprinted toward the infirmary and burst through the door without hesitation.
What he found inside made his blood run cold.
Nezra stood there, blade raised, hovering just above Aphroa's throat.
Rubayd roared with every ounce of strength he had and hurled himself at the young woman, smashing her violently against the wall.
