Chapter 3

I cornered Arthur in the Guild hallway before he could leave. I needed my capital back before springing my trap.

"Lilith and I need to eat," I demanded, blocking his path. "Rent costs coin. Food costs coin. Give me back the gold and mana stones you emptied from my vault to fund your war widow."

Arthur frowned, clearly annoyed by my bluntness. "I will send a courier with a stipend."

"No," I snapped. "You don't get my new address. Have it ready. I will come to the estate gates tomorrow morning."

The next morning, the winter wind whipped against my face. I stood before the towering wrought-iron gates of my former home. Lilith gripped my hand tightly.

The heavy gates swung open. Arthur walked out, flanked by Elena. Right between them, young Damian ran ahead, squealing with laughter. He gripped a brand-new, silver-plated Levitation Glider. The expensive toy hovered in the air, powered by a brilliant blue, high-grade mana stone.

My mana stone.

Elena nudged the boy forward. "Show Daddy how high it flies, Damian!"

"Look, Daddy!" Damian shouted.

Lilith flinched. The word hit me like a physical blow. I stared at Arthur. His pristine white cape fluttered in the wind. He caught my eye and stammered, a flash of panic crossing his face.

"It was extra gold," Arthur said quickly. "The boy has been through trauma. He needed a distraction."

I cut him off. "In your eyes, Arthur, my daughter and I are the extra ones. You promised me my coin. Hand it over."

Arthur’s face hardened into a scowl. "You are haggling over a traumatized child's toy, Aria? Have you no shame?"

Elena stepped out from behind his imposing figure. She held out a stained canvas sack, offering a pathetic, trembling smile. "We don't have the gold right now, Aria. But I saved these for you. It felt like a pity to throw them out."

I looked into the sack. Hard, green-fuzzed bread and blackened, rotting silver-leaf herbs sat at the bottom. She was offering me actual garbage.

I raised my hand to slap the bag into the dirt, but Lilith stepped in front of me.

"No thank you, Father," my seven-year-old daughter said. Her voice rang out cold and sharp. "You taught me yourself that moldy silver-leaf breeds necro-toxins. Did you forget your own lessons?"

Arthur recoiled as if slapped. He opened his mouth to scold her.

A guttural roar shattered the morning air.

A stray Shadow Wolf exploded from the treeline. It moved like black lightning, bypassing the armored guards completely. It lunged straight for the glowing mana stone in Damian's toy.

Claws flashed. Damian screamed. Blood hit the snow.

Total chaos erupted. Knights drew their swords, shouting orders.

Ice flooded my veins. My past life crashed into my skull with blinding force. I knew this moment. I knew the wolf's venom. I knew exactly what Arthur would do next.

I scooped Lilith into my arms and ran.

"Stop her!" Elena shrieked. She lunged forward, her manicured fingernails digging violently into my shoulder. "Damian is bleeding! His eyes! He’s the only heir to a hero!"

I kicked backward, catching Elena in the shin. She howled and dropped, but the delay cost me everything.

Arthur turned. His eyes locked onto Lilith. "Guards. Escort my wife and daughter into the healing carriage. Now."

Three armored knights surrounded me. Iron gauntlets grabbed my arms. I bit, I kicked, I screamed, but they easily overpowered me, throwing Lilith and me into the back of the armored transport.

Ten minutes later, the harsh white magical lights of the Healing Temple glared down on us. The sickening scent of holy incense and fresh blood choked the air.

The High Priest stepped out of the emergency ward. He shook his head grimly. "The wolf's venom dissolved the boy's corneas. He will go permanently blind within the hour. He needs a live transplant immediately. Star-magic eyes."

Arthur didn't even hesitate. He didn't blink.

He pointed straight at Lilith. "This is my daughter. She has the bloodline. I authorize the donation of her Star-magic eyes."

I exploded.

I shoved a heavily armored knight aside and threw myself over Lilith, shielding her body with mine.

"She is seven years old!" I screamed, my voice tearing my throat. "What the hell is wrong with you? She is your flesh and blood!"

Arthur glared down at me, his face a mask of terrifying, resolute righteousness. "Damian carries the legacy of my fallen brother-in-arms. I would trade my own life for his. A pair of eyes is a small price to pay for the Greater Good. Hold her down."

A priest stepped forward, his fingers glowing with a paralyzing spell. He tapped Lilith’s shoulder. Her small body went completely rigid.

"Mom..." Lilith slurred, her eyes rolling back slightly. "Why... why can't we ever escape?"

My sanity snapped. The world tinted red.

"Touch her and I will rip your throat out with my bare teeth!" I roared, fighting like a feral beast against the two knights dragging me backward by my hair. "You don't deserve the title of father, Arthur! You are a monster!"

Arthur drew his holy blade, the steel ringing out in the sterile room. He stepped toward the operating table. "Do it," he commanded the priests.

Before the priest could raise his scalpel, the temperature in the room plummeted to absolute zero.

The cloying smell of holy incense vanished, instantly replaced by the suffocating stench of sulfur, ozone, and ancient blood. The marble floor cracked right down the middle. A terrifying, crushing pressure slammed into the room.

The two knights holding me violently collapsed, choking on their own breath. Arthur hit his knees, his holy sword clattering against the floor.

The air tore open.

A voice cut through the dead silence. It sounded lazy, dripping with lethal amusement, and echoed with the weight of a thousand nightmares.

"Well, well. Who exactly is stupid enough to try and take our little Lilith's eyes?"