When the dust and light settled, Julian was still standing.
He lowered his arms slowly.
His right sleeve was completely torn apart, revealing a long, shallow cut across his forearm.
Drip...
Drip...
Blood trickled down his skin, dripping onto the scorched ground.
It was only a small wound, far from fatal but the fact that Jake had managed to injure him at all with that strike left Julian visibly surprised.
He slowly looked up at Jake, who was now retreat a short distance away.
Grace stood next to him, her eyes filled with worry as she looked at his bloodied and battered body while he breathed heavily.
"…Are you really a Common Class?" Julian murmured softly, almost to himself.
He had ordered a thorough investigation into both Jake and Grace after his men found them at the Guild.
Every move they made, every contact, every rumor... all of it had been reported back to him.
