CHAPTER 152: CH 152: CAN YOU GIVE IT TO ME? - PART 4

Dorian’s sharp gaze scanned the wall of smoke rising before him, his grip tightening around the hilt of his blade. He turned to Seraphine, his voice confident, almost smug.

"Lady Seraphine, allow me to retrieve the necklace. There’s no way they survived your attack. I’ll bring it back to you in a moment."

He said, bowing his head slightly.

Seraphine didn’t move. Her umbrella rested lightly against her shoulder, her expression calm, but her eyes glimmered with an edge of caution.

"No. Not yet. Wait for the smoke to clear."

She replied softly, shaking her head.

Dorian hesitated, brows furrowing.

"With all due respect, my lady, no one could possibly—"

"Dorian, step back."

Seraphine interrupted, her voice sharp now.

He blinked in confusion, about to question her, but before he could speak, Seraphine’s tone cut through the air like a blade:

"—Be careful!"

Instinct took over. Dorian threw himself backward just as something blurred past his neck, the sharp sound of claws slicing air filling the silence.

He landed in a low crouch, his hand immediately pressing to the spot where the wind of death had brushed his skin.

Standing before him, a few feet away, was Irielle—her lips curled into a faint, disappointed pout, her claws glinting faintly under the dim light.

"Tch... missed."

She muttered, her voice low but edged with irritation.

The smoke began to thin, and as the haze cleared, Seraphine’s sharp gaze immediately fell upon the figures standing within it.

All three of them were perfectly fine. Not a scratch on them.

Dorian’s jaw dropped, disbelief flashing across his face. He turned toward his mistress, his voice rising.

"H-how...? That was your strike, my lady! No one could have survived that blast!"

Seraphine said nothing, her expression neutral, but her grip on the umbrella handle tightened ever so slightly.

Kana, meanwhile, stood behind Lysera, her breathing uneven, still trying to process what had just happened.

Her chest was tight, and she could feel her body trembling slightly under the aftershock of the activation.

Irielle, however, only gave Dorian an amused look before letting out a soft laugh, brushing a lock of hair away from her face.

"That was it? That was supposed to scare us? Hah... pathetic."

She taunted, tilting her head mockingly.

The mocking words landed with precision, and Dorian’s face darkened instantly, his pride ignited like dry tinder catching fire.

His hands tightened into fists, and his breath came faster, his rage boiling over.

"You...You’ll regret those words!"

His voice was low, trembling, his entire body coiled like a spring ready to strike.

Before Seraphine could stop him, Dorian lunged forward, his movements blindingly fast, his blade gleaming as he swung with lethal precision.

But Irielle was faster.

With a graceful sidestep, she avoided his strike as though she’d seen it coming a mile away.

Her claws lashed out, grazing his wrist, and with a sharp twist of her body, she caught him off balance, flipping him hard onto the cobblestone ground.

Dorian groaned, but before he could recover, Irielle straddled his arm, pinning him down effortlessly with nothing but raw strength and technique.

"You’re noisy. Should I quiet you down?"

She said softly, her voice carrying a dangerous lilt.

Her claws hovered dangerously close to his neck, their tips glinting faintly.

Dorian’s muscles tensed, his breathing ragged, but before Irielle could deliver the finishing blow, Seraphine’s voice cut through the tension.

"That’s enough."

The words were calm but laced with finality, making even Irielle pause.

Dorian’s head jerked toward his mistress, his voice cracking in protest.

"But my lady—!"

"I said enough. We surrender this time. There’s no need to continue."

Seraphine’s gaze softened just a fraction as she closed her umbrella, resting it neatly at her side.

Irielle’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, the soft rumble of a growl escaping her throat.

"Tch. Don’t make me laugh. You don’t look like someone who gives up."

Seraphine’s lips curled into a faint smile.

"Believe what you want."

Without waiting for further exchange, she grabbed Dorian by the collar and pulled him up with surprising strength. Despite his protests, she forced him toward the opposite end of the alley.

"We’re leaving."

She said firmly, giving Irielle one last glance before disappearing into the shadows.

For a few moments, the silence left behind was suffocating. Kana’s heart pounded in her ears, the adrenaline ebbing away and leaving only exhaustion in its wake.

Her knees buckled slightly, and before she could steady herself, her vision blurred.

"Kana!"

Lysera was there first, her hands reaching out to hold Kana upright. Irielle quickly stepped in on her other side, looping Kana’s arm over her shoulder.

"I-I’m fine."

Kana tried to murmur, but her voice was weak and unconvincing.

"Fine? You’re trembling. You almost collapsed just now."

Lysera frowned, her brows knitting together as she gently brushed strands of Kana’s hair away from her damp forehead.

Kana pressed her lips together, forcing a small, tired smile despite the pounding in her head.

"Really... I’m okay."

Irielle clicked her tongue and gave her an exasperated look.

"Don’t even try to act tough right now. You scared us."

Lysera’s grip tightened slightly, her jaw clenching as if she were holding back words she wanted to say. After a moment, she sighed, shaking her head.

"Let’s just get out of here."

She whispered softly, her voice low but firm.

Irielle nodded, and together, the two supported Kana as they carefully made their way out of the alley, each step slow and cautious.

Kana leaned on them both, still shaken and unsteady, her mind replaying Seraphine’s words over and over again.

’That necklace... She won’t stop coming after it.’

Even as her body felt heavier with every step, Kana couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.

Seeing Kana’s pale face and trembling hands, Irielle quietly stepped closer and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Let’s head home for now,"

She said softly, her usual playful tone replaced with rare gentleness.

"You don’t need to think about any of this right now. Lysera and I will help you relax and take your mind off everything."

Kana looked at her, hesitating for a moment before slowly nodding. Lysera moved closer as well, silently brushing Kana’s hair back as if in agreement.

Surrounded by the two, Kana felt a small sense of warmth despite her lingering unease.