Freya looked at Evo, her voice dry and slightly irritated as she asked:
– Aren't you going to tell me how you got that information?
Evo narrowed his eyes, feeling a knot of unease inside him.
It was the first time she had spoken to him so harshly.
He had seen her act that way toward people she despised — but never toward him.
His heart tightened.
He didn't want her to treat him like that, but he understood that right now, he looked extremely suspicious.
So he only nodded.
Everyone needed to focus on taking down those damned traitors.
If they became distracted with Evo, treating him kindly and warmly, it could end up hurting them in the future — especially when making decisions involving their academy's staff.
Evo was referring to Kalistro and Talier.
Between being loved without question and potentially harming them, or being distrusted but keeping them alert and prepared...
He preferred the second option.
– Maybe it's better this way.
He accepted her attitude as normal and shifted into a cold, blunt mode.
– No. I won't tell you.
– I've told you that before.
His voice came out colder than he intended, but he didn't try to correct it.
For the first time since they had met, the atmosphere between them grew heavy and frigid.
Ravina didn't quite know what to do — she simply stayed by her friend's side, the obvious choice.
Evo truly looked suspicious, even with the Goddess's warning about his arrival and actions.
Neither of them could lower their guard, even if he had once been someone who brought them joy.
Freya, seeing that he was firm in refusing to say what he didn't want to, simply nodded and told him to continue.
If they kept going like that, they would never move forward.
– Fine, continue.
– But know that I'm very suspicious of you right now.
– And I have a lot of doubts.
– So choose your words carefully.
Freya warned him coldly — just like Evo.
It was as if she had become a different person.
Even though it hurt Evo deeply, he remained firm, maintaining an indifferent posture.
– I don't care about that. As long as I can say everything I need to say.
– Well...
Evo shrugged.
– The rest is inevitable, I guess.
In a strange way, the two reached a sort of agreement, and Evo finally began speaking.
– What if I told you I know exactly where the Wanderers' hideout is?
He barely finished the sentence.
He didn't even have time to look her in the eyes.
All he saw were her feet — before an immense invisible force crushed him violently against the floor.
– I told you before: be careful with your words!
Her voice dripped with venom.
Evo knew that topic was extremely sensitive for her.
Saying he didn't expect her to react that way would be a lie.
Even as his body was crushed by gravity, he kept speaking with an apathetic tone.
– You… don't… want to know?
He asked with difficulty — his chest was pinned to the ground, making it hard to breathe.
Freya completely lost her composure.
The Wanderers had been a thorn in her side for centuries.
She had tirelessly searched for their hideout.
And now Evo — who had never left his family's domain — suddenly claimed he knew where it was.
Even with the Goddess's warning, it was a hard pill to swallow.
– Evo, out of respect, I'm asking you to stop with these jokes.
Despite being pinned down, Evo lifted his eyes to meet hers.
– You really think I would waste my time coming here at this hour just to joke around?
His voice was filled with venom, like hers.
But it was all a performance — a mask to hide the sadness he felt from the way she looked at him.
Freya studied his words.
Ravina spoke softly beside her:
– Freya, let's at least hear everything Eylam has to say.
Even though it was hard to believe him, Ravina decided it was better to listen first.
Freya met Evo's eyes, and he stared back.
Then she released her spell.
Evo stood as if nothing had happened, brushed the dust off his clothes, straightened his tattered suit, and sat down again.
– Next time you do something like that, listen to everything I have to say first.
Evo took a folded paper from inside his suit and placed it on the small table between the sofa and the armchair.
Freya arched an eyebrow.
– What is that?
She asked with an apathetic tone.
Evo replied in the same manner:
– The location of their hideout.
– But before anything...
He paused, staring firmly at her.
– Don't act impulsively after reading it.
– You're smart. I trust you'll make the right call.
With that warning, Evo leaned back in the armchair, idly spinning a coin between his fingers.
After a few seconds, Freya finally took the paper and began reading.
[ INFORMATION ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION'S LOCATION AND MEMBERS ]
Hideout: located on The Island of Passages, at the border between the Human Kingdom and the Dragon Kingdom.
Known members:
Baltazar: Apparently a former noble of the Empire. Possibly involved in the kidnapping of the former princess.
Level: 684. Has several implants of dragon parts and turned himself into a chimera-like dragon. Not a real threat.
Baltazar's Associate: Very little is known. Only that he is a relatively talented magic user.
Kalistro: Weapons instructor at the academy, infiltrated as a staff member in service of the organization.
Talier: Member of the Order of the Three Decrees. Codename: Umbra. Supposed disciple of Kalistro. A traitor and infiltrator working for the organization.
Freya's pupils trembled as she read.
She wanted to laugh.
Then she confronted Evo:
– Are you insane?
She held up the paper.
– I'm completely sober.
Freya burst into laughter, and Ravina took the paper from her to read it herself.
While she read, Freya mocked Evo:
– Hahaha! Sorry, but you've lost it!
– How can you say Instructor Kalistro and Talier are traitors?
Ravina was shocked, but she remained silent.
Evo only sighed.
Arrrrrrgh.
Even though he decided not to take their behavior to heart, nothing was going the way he hoped.
He thought communicating with them would be a thousand times easier, but the opposite was true.
Everything was difficult because he couldn't reveal how he got the information.
And by hiding that, of course they would doubt him — especially when the subject involved their academy's students and employees.
Even so, it hurt to see the distrust in their eyes.
He bit his lips and accepted it.
It wasn't their fault.
– Aren't you going to say anything, Evo Eylam?
It was the first time Freya called him by his full name.
It showed exactly how she saw him in that moment.
Evo chose not to stay any longer, afraid he would crumble.
He would say everything at once and let them decide what to do with the information — whether they believed him or not.
In the end, he would act regardless.
Evo stood up and adjusted his suit.
Freya asked:
– What are you doing?
After straightening his clothes, he looked at both of them.
– I'll just say the rest all at once.
– There's one more thing:
– They're planning to attack during the Spring Ball the two of you will host.
He paused when Freya's gaze sharpened.
– I thought the ball would be this spring, but as you told me, there's still a year before they strike.
Then he began walking toward the exit.
– Where are you going?
Evo stopped, still facing away.
He turned his face slightly, looking at her from the corner of his eye.
His gaze was dull, lifeless.
– Isn't it obvious? I'm leaving.
– You decide what to do with everything I've told you.
– Whether you believe me or not is up to you.
He shrugged and walked away, leaving both women with countless doubts.
The Goddess's warnings to trust him had been completely useless.
Not even she expected things to unfold like that.
She didn't see this coming.
The three of them had shown harmony and affection — each one a source of happiness for the other. But...
What had just happened felt like a conversation between enemies.
– Honestly...
The Goddess, watching everything, pressed a hand to her forehead.
– Something that was supposed to be peaceful turned into a complete mess!
With that in mind, she decided to intervene and knock some sense into her apostle.