The chamber was already breaking—
But when Cairis moved—
It shattered.
The moment Liora collapsed, something in him shifted.
Not visibly.
Not emotionally.
But fundamentally.
The restraint he had been holding onto—
Was gone.
The assassin barely had time to react.
Cairis was already in front of him.
Crimson energy surged like a storm unleashed.
Their blades collided—
And the impact cracked the floor beneath them.
The assassin slid back several steps.
Boots scraping against broken stone.
But he didn't fall.
Didn't panic.
Didn't hesitate.
"…So it's true," he said calmly.
"The Crown Prince really would choose her."
Cairis didn't respond.
Didn't need to.
His silence was heavier than words.
The assassin adjusted his grip slightly.
"…That makes this easier."
That—
That was the second mistake.
Cairis disappeared.
No warning.
No buildup.
Just—
Gone.
The next second—
He reappeared behind him.
CRASH—
The blow sent the assassin straight through the far wall.
Stone exploded outward.
Dust filled the air.
But even that—
Wasn't enough.
Because the man stood again.
Slowly.
Blood running down his arm now.
But his expression—
Still calm.
Still focused.
"…You're stronger than expected."
Cairis stepped through the debris.
Unbothered.
Uninjured.
Unstoppable.
"…You're still alive."
His voice was low.
Cold.
The assassin wiped the blood from his mouth again.
"…That's the idea."
He raised his blade again.
Dark energy coiling around it.
Thicker now.
More dangerous.
"You're protecting her."
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No denial.
Just truth.
The assassin tilted his head slightly.
"…Even knowing what she is?"
Cairis's eyes darkened.
"…Say that again."
"An unstable weapon."
The words hadn't even fully left his mouth—
Before Cairis moved again.
This time—
Faster.
Stronger.
Deadlier.
The clash shook the entire palace wing.
The assassin barely blocked it.
The force drove him back violently.
His arm cracked slightly under the pressure.
But he held.
Barely.
"…So it's not just loyalty."
His voice strained now.
"…It's obsession."
That—
That was the third mistake.
The air went completely still.
For one second.
Then—
Cairis's power exploded.
Not controlled.
Not restrained.
Overwhelming.
Crushing.
The kind of power that didn't just defeat enemies—
It erased them.
"…Careful."
His voice dropped.
Dangerous.
"Don't assume things you don't understand."
The assassin's smile faded slightly.
For the first time—
He felt it.
The difference in power.
The gap.
"…I see."
But even then—
He didn't retreat.
Instead—
He stepped forward again.
Deliberately.
Like this was exactly what he wanted.
"…Then let's end this properly."
The dark energy around him surged.
Stronger than before.
More unstable.
More reckless.
He wasn't holding back anymore.
Neither was Cairis.
The next clash—
Wasn't a fight.
It was destruction.
The chamber couldn't handle it.
Walls cracked.
The ceiling trembled.
Magic barriers shattered.
And at the center of it—
Two forces collided with enough power to level everything around them.
Outside—
Guards rushed toward the scene again.
But this time—
They stopped.
Because the pressure alone—
Was enough to keep them back.
"…We can't get close!"
"What is happening in there—?!"
No one answered.
Because no one needed to.
They could feel it.
The Crown Prince wasn't just fighting.
He was ending something.
Inside—
The assassin staggered back again.
His breathing heavier now.
His body strained.
Damaged.
"…You're serious."
Cairis stepped forward.
Slow.
Unstoppable.
"I told you to leave."
"You did."
The assassin coughed slightly.
Blood hitting the floor.
"…I'm just not very good at following orders."
Cairis's eyes narrowed.
"…Whose orders?"
Silence.
Then—
The assassin laughed.
Low.
Amused.
"…That's the interesting part."
Cairis didn't move.
But the tension sharpened.
"…Explain."
The man straightened slightly.
Despite his injuries.
Despite the situation.
He looked… satisfied.
"…I wasn't sent."
Silence.
Cairis's gaze darkened.
"…Impossible."
"That's what I thought too."
The assassin shrugged slightly.
"…But here I am."
The room felt colder.
Because that
That didn't make sense.
Not in a place like this.
Not with this level of security.
Not with this level of precision.
"No orders."
"No master."
"No contract."
His eyes flicked briefly toward Liora's unconscious form.
"…Just curiosity."
Cairis followed his gaze.
And something in him snapped further.
"…You attacked her out of curiosity?"
"Yes."
That answer
That answer sealed it.
Because there was no reasoning with that.
No negotiation.
No logic.
Just chaos.
Cairis moved.
The final strike
Clean.
Precise.
Overwhelming.
The assassin didn't block this time.
Didn't dodge.
Didn't even try.
The impact slammed him into the ground.
Cracking it beneath him.
Pinning him there.
Cairis stood over him.
Crimson energy pressing down like a weight.
"…You're done."
The assassin looked up at him.
Breathing uneven now.
Blood staining his clothes.
But even now
He smiled.
"…Maybe."
And then
Something changed.
The dark energy around him twisted.
Collapsed inward.
Unnaturally.
Cairis's eyes narrowed instantly.
"…No"
Too late.
The energy detonated.
Not outward
Inward.
Consuming him.
Erasing him.
In seconds—
There was nothing left.
No body.
No trace.
No presence.
Just silence.
The room went still.
Completely.
Cairis didn't move for a moment.
Then
Slowly
He turned.
His gaze landed on Liora.
Still unconscious.
Still vulnerable.
And something about that
Something about how close this had come
Settled deep.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
"…This isn't random."
His voice was quiet.
But certain.
Because nothing about that felt like chance.
Not the timing.
Not the target.
Not the way it ended.
From the shadows of a distant corridor
Vael watched.
Unseen.
His expression thoughtful.
"…Interesting."
Not surprised.
Not concerned.
Just… observing.
Because even this
Even chaos without orders
Still moved things forward.
And that was all he needed.
Cairis stepped toward Liora.
Knelt beside her.
Carefully.
His hand hovered for a second
Then gently rested against her shoulder.
"…You're safe."
The words were quiet.
But firm.
Even if she couldn't hear them.
Even if she didn't believe them yet.
He would make it true.
No matter what it cost.