[Riding on the Carriage]
Leo sat on the right side of the carriage while Lucas took the left. The wooden wheels rattled noisily, shaking the cabin as the horses galloped at full speed through the night.
"If we keep this pace, we'll be crossing this kingdom soon, hehe."
Lucas smirked, his voice light with confidence.
"Yeah? And where exactly are you merchants headed?" Leo asked, her tone calm but watchful.
"To the Rejah Kingdom," Lucas replied without hesitation.
"I see…"
Leo's expression hardened into seriousness as her gaze shifted to the dark road stretching endlessly ahead.
"I've got to say, I'm impressed," Lucas said, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.
"Huh?" Leo muttered, turning to look at him.
"At this hour, no ordinary girl would dare to cross kingdoms with merchants. Haha." Lucas chuckled.
Leo allowed herself a polite laugh. "Haha, I get it. I'm a brave gu—" she corrected herself with a smirk, "—woman, after all."
"Woah, I like that kind of spirit." Lucas smiled faintly. "Well then, you can rest if you'd like. We've got plenty of time before we leave this kingdom."
But as he leaned back, his smile faltered. His complexion paled slightly, and he lowered his head with a quiet sigh.
"Is something wrong, Mister Lucas?" Leo asked, curiosity sparking in her eyes.
"N-no, nothing. Really." Lucas quickly forced a smile, waving it off. But Leo could see it. That shadow lingering behind his expression—he was hiding something.
"We all carry regrets for the things we've done," Leo said softly, her eyes drifting upward toward the black sky. Stars shimmered faintly, though clouds rolled in to veil them.
"Eh?" Lucas lifted his head, caught off guard. For a moment, her words pierced through him. He stared, almost impressed.
"Wh-what do you mean?" he asked, his face a mixture of curiosity and unease.
Leo turned her head slowly, meeting his gaze with a sad smile. Her eyes trembled, yet carried conviction.
"You already know what I mean."
Her words struck like an arrow. Lucas's eyes widened, the sorrow on his face evaporating in shock.
BOOM!!
A thunderous explosion ripped through the night. The carriage jolted to an abrupt stop as the horses shrieked in panic.
"Sir Lucas! Bad news!" the postillion cried out, his voice trembling. "Someone's standing in front of us—with a massive axe!!"
"Huh!? Who the hell is that?!" Lucas shot to his feet, shouting back.
Damn it… I finally managed to get a carriage, and now this?!
Leo clenched her fists tightly, her sharp gaze narrowing.
Lucas leapt out of the carriage.
"Miss Mion, stay inside. Let us handle this."
"…Okay." Leo nodded, though her eyes followed closely.
As Lucas approached the panicked postillion, his breath caught in his throat.
"What the—!?"
Before him stood a figure cloaked in shadow. A woman in adventurer's garb of black and white, a hood concealing her face. In her right hand gleamed a massive black-silver axe, its blade catching the moonlight. Her long, dark hair whipped violently in the night air.
"A shadow…? An assassin…?" Lucas muttered, his voice trembling. His body froze, drenched in cold sweat. Her very presence was suffocating.
"What do we do, sir?!" the postillion stammered, his eyes wide with fear.
"You protect Miss Mion. Leave this to me," Lucas ordered, though his voice wavered.
"Yes, sir!" The postillion bolted back toward the carriage.
Lucas swallowed hard and raised his voice. "Let me ask—who are you, woman?!"
The hooded figure tilted her head slightly, her voice like a haunting whisper.
"I want her… I want her. Only her."
"…Huh? Who—"
Before Lucas could even finish, the woman moved. In a flash, her axe swept forward, grazing his arm.
"Gh—!" Lucas staggered back as blood trickled from the cut across his right arm.
"Tch… damn it!" he hissed, clutching the wound.
"What is happening?!"
Leo's voice trembled as she leapt to her feet, her face a mixture of fear and disbelief.
"Miss! A… a creepy woman with an axe is attacking us! Sir Lucas is trying to stop her!" the postillion shouted, his voice quivering with panic.
"A woman with an axe!?" Leo's words cracked as shock and fear painted her face.
"Sir Lucas told you to stay inside! You mustn't leave the carriage!" the postillion warned, his eyes wide with terror.
"…What…?" Leo whispered, her voice barely audible. Her hands shook, gripping her hair as frustration and fear collided inside her.
"Agh! Why… why now!? This was my chance to leave this kingdom safely…"
Her thoughts were a whirlwind, but then a memory surfaced—the sorrowful look on Lucas' face from earlier. In that instant, her panic began to melt into icy determination.
"I… I am Leo Julius Eros. I was once the strongest in this kingdom. How can I just stand here like a coward?!"
Her fists clenched tightly, golden eyes blazing with fury.
"I… I will go," she said, her voice low, calm, and unwavering.
"Huh!? Miss, what are you talking about?! This is far too dangerous!!" the postillion cried out.
"Sir Lucas told you to stay here with me!" Leo reminded him, gripping his shoulder firmly. A smirk curved her lips, her confidence shining through.
"I know… I know this very well. But I have to," she added, her golden eyes burning with resolve.
Without another word, Leo leapt from the carriage.
"Miss!!" the postillion screamed, but she ignored him.
BAM!
Lucas collapsed, coughing up blood.
"I will never let anyone hurt my friends, woman!!" he roared, pushing himself up from the ground.
"The Fire Tornado!!"
Lucas unleashed his skill—a massive, swirling inferno of fire roaring toward the woman.
"Oh, how beautiful~" she purred, her voice dripping with amusement.
"Now it's my turn… Devil Destroyer!"
With a flick of her axe, the fire tornado shattered into nothing, cut cleanly in two by the green, jagged blade of the Devil Destroyer.
"What the…!?" Lucas gasped, staggering back, blood dripping from his wounds.
"Now… give her to me!!" The woman's fury ignited as she advanced, axe raised high.
"Stop it!!"
Both combatants froze as Leo's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. She stepped forward, her eyes blazing with righteous anger.
"Stop hurting him!! I will destroy you!!"
"No, Mion! Run!! She's too powerful!!" Lucas shouted, fear and desperation coloring his voice.
But it was too late. The woman's axe slammed down against Lucas' neck with a sickening thud, knocking him unconscious. He crumpled to the ground, limp and bloody.
"Aahh~ what a lovely night this is," the woman purred, her voice laced with malice. She ran her tongue along the edge of her axe. "I've been waiting for this moment for so long. Finally… I can get what I came for, hehe."
"What the hell is this woman…!?" Leo thought, sweat trickling down her temple.
"W-who are you!? Show me your face!!" she shouted, rage and fear mingling in her voice.
"Why not…"
With a slow, deliberate motion, the woman pulled back her hood.
Dalia. The head maid of Leo's mansion.
Her eyes glinted with amusement, and a smirk spread across her face as she stared coldly at Leo.
"Uh… hh…"
Leo froze completely, her body locking up as shock ripped through her. Her hands trembled, golden eyes wide and unblinking.
"Da-Dalia…? Y… you?" Her voice cracked, a mixture of disbelief and terror.
"Yes, my master. It's me… your maid, hehe."
Dalia's innocent smile only made the nightmare feel more real.