My heart pounded in my chest, but I couldn't let it show.

I had to keep my story straight.

"It wasn't about names," I said, forcing calm into my voice. "It was about getting the job done quickly. We didn't have time for introductions."

I could see the skepticism in his eyes, the way he scrutinized every word, every movement I made.

But I held my ground, meeting his gaze head-on. I couldn't afford to show any weakness.

Not now, when everything was on the line.

Inside, I was a mess. This guy wasn't going to let it go.

My mind raced, grasping for anything to hold my story together. I couldn't afford to slip up now.

Lorian's stare pierced through my facade—it was unnerving.

I needed to stay calm, but it was getting harder with each passing moment.

I couldn't shake the feeling that Lorian was just waiting for me to crack, to give him a reason to call me out.

Lorian's silence stretched, the tension tightening like a noose around my neck.

I had to push the conversation away from the cracks in my story.

"You know how it is, I said, forcing a casual tone. "When the higher-ups give an order, you don't ask questions."

I hoped to appeal to any shared understanding among the guild members—an unspoken rule that sometimes, orders were followed blindly.

I glanced at the other men, trying to gauge their reactions.

A few of them exchanged looks, and I caught a flicker of something in their eyes—maybe understanding, maybe doubt.

I wasn't sure, but I had to push, to keep control of the narrative before it slipped out of my grasp.

One of the other guild members shrugged. "Makes sense," he said. "If it was just a quick scout, no need to make a big deal out of it."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Others murmured in agreement, and I felt the tension in the group start to ease.

Relief washed over me, but it was tempered by the awareness that Lorian's gaze was still fixed on me, sharp as ever.

I couldn't afford to relax just yet.

I had managed to convince most of them, but Lorian was a different story. His eyes were like a blade pressed against my throat, reminding me that one wrong move could end everything.

But for now, the immediate danger seemed to be passing.

I straightened up slightly, trying to look like I belonged, trying to appear confident despite the churning anxiety inside me.

Every instinct told me to leave as quickly as possible, but I couldn't afford to look like I was running.

Especially not when Lorian was still watching.

[POV Shift]

Lorian hesitated.

The story made sense on the surface, but something still felt off.

He could see that the young man was good at thinking on his feet, but there was a tension beneath the surface that Lorian couldn't ignore.

Yet, without evidence, he couldn't push any further without looking paranoid in front of his men.

He scrutinized Ethan's face, searching for any crack in his facade. The young man's composure was impressive, but Lorian wasn't easily swayed.

Still, he knew when to pick his battles. The rest of the men seemed to be accepting the story, and there was no immediate reason to escalate the situation.

"Fine," Lorian finally said, his voice was low and measured. "But I'll be keeping an eye on you."

He let the warning hang in the air, knowing it would be enough to keep Ethan on edge.

For now, he would let the man go, but this wasn't over—not by a long shot.

[POV Shift: Back to Ethan]

I nodded, careful not to show too much relief.

"You won't have any trouble from me," I said, meeting Lorian's gaze.

But his eyes warned me—it wasn't over.

I needed to get out of here before he decided to push further.

My mind was already racing ahead, thinking about the town I had seen earlier, wondering if it would offer any real refuge or if it was just another trap waiting to spring.

But right now, putting distance between myself and Lorian was all that mattered.

I forced a calm nod to the group and turned to leave, each step calculated, unhurried.

But inside, I was a coiled spring, ready to bolt the moment I was out of their sight.

As I walked away toward the town, Lorian's heavy and suffocating gaze lingered on my back.

I might have escaped this time, but I knew I hadn't fooled him completely.

Next time, I might not survive.

But for now, I just needed to keep moving, keep surviving.

Each step away from the group felt like a small victory, but the gnawing fear in my gut reminded me that this was just the beginning.

Lorian Kessler wasn't someone who would forget easily, and neither would I.

As the town drew closer, I pushed aside the lingering dread and focused on the immediate task: finding a place to lie low and figure out my next move.

Whatever challenges awaited me there, I'd face them.

After all, survival was the only game left to play.