The lieutenant was overwhelming.
Lyra's fire barely slowed it.
Her shields cracked under its strength.
Kael attacked from the side.
No effect.
Rylan struck from above.
Still nothing.
The stranger stepped forward.
"Fall back," he ordered.
Lyra shook her head.
"We fight together."
The creature laughed.
"Together or alone… you still die."
It swung.
Lyra blocked.
Her shield shattered.
She flew backward into broken stone.
Pain shot through her ribs.
The creature prepared to finish her.
Then darkness exploded between them.
The stranger.
His power looked different now.
Darker.
More dangerous.
Energy wrapped around his arm like living shadow.
Lyra felt something wrong.
"What did you do?" she asked.
He didn't answer.
He attacked.
His power increased dramatically. Every strike pushed the creature back.
Kael frowned.
"You used it?"
Rylan looked serious.
"That was forbidden."
Lyra stood slowly.
"What is happening?"
The stranger finally spoke.
"I made a pact long ago."
"With what?"
"Something worse than the Guild."
Lyra's stomach dropped.
"You risked your soul?"
"I risked everything already."
His final strike destroyed the lieutenant.
Silence followed.
His power faded.
He nearly collapsed.
Lyra caught him.
"You can't keep doing this."
He looked at her softly.
"I will if it keeps you alive."
Her chest tightened.
Far away…
Something answered his pact.
And it was waking up.
After the battle, emotions finally exploded.
Kael confronted the stranger first.
"You can't keep risking yourself like that."
The stranger replied calmly:
"I don't need permission."
Rylan stepped between them.
"Both of you are idiots."
Lyra sighed.
"Can we not fight each other?"
Kael looked at her.
"I'm not fighting him."
Pause.
"I'm fighting for you."
The words hit harder than any attack.
Rylan added casually:
"Same."
The stranger stayed quiet.
Lyra felt trapped between emotions.
Three men.
Three different kinds of attraction.
Safety.
Excitement.
Freedom.
Her heart couldn't choose.
"I don't know what I'm doing," she admitted.
Kael smiled softly.
"None of us do."
Rylan added:
"We just know we don't plan to leave."
The stranger finally spoke:
"You don't have to choose right now."
Lyra felt relief.
Then danger returned.
A silent dart struck her neck.
Poison.
Her vision blurred.
Last thing she saw
Kael catching her.
The stranger shouting.
Rylan chasing a fleeing assassin.
Lyra collapsed.
And the Guild finally had her.