The two thralls had briefly smiled while enduring the beating, but smiled nonetheless. That and the pride shining in their eyes for the strength they hid had betrayed not their nature, not as Upyrs, but as wolves in sheep's clothing.
The mana crystal in Balkor's hand thawed at discernible speed, and the arrays finally activated, but Balkor kept his guard high.
"I'm sorry, Karim. I really am." The Colossus grabbed the head merchant and sealed the other members of the Crystal Bird guild inside its body. "Now stay still, or you'll join the traitors in death."
Life Vision couldn't reveal Vurdalak blood, but the lack of mana flow was a testament to the merchant's non-Awakened core. Balkor sealed Karim's lips and hands with Spirit Magic before examining him with his breathing technique, Death's Whisper.
'Not an Upyr nor a better actor. Good.' He examined the merchants one by one and found no anomalies.
