If looks could kill, Harold would have been hung, drawn and quartered before being burnt alive before his remains were cast into the ocean.

Nyx felt that there were so many things wrong with his statement, she didn't know where to start and thus could only close her eyes and release an exasperated sigh.

However, to Harold, that was just happy to have his sister back and, while her traumatic experiences had changed her personality considerably, safe and sound, the sigh sounded like one of relief. He believed Nyx truly hated the hospital, hence her escape attempts and couldn't way to get home.

Thinking he had helped her, even though it was only with something insignificant, Harold couldn't help but let his smile widen as he turned to leave with the doctors.

Nalia, on the other hand, was much more perceptive and had come to a vague understanding of Nyx's personality during the week she had been assigned to the hospital. Pinching the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger, she released her own sigh.

Nalia knew that it was going to be a very long night for both her and the other guards.

The next morning, as the sun slowly rose above the city's walls, illuminating the streets in its warm glow, the appearance of Nalia and the seven other guards who lined the walls of Nyx's small room, so that not even a bug could escape, told just how bad their night had been.

Ignoring the dark bags under their eyes, or the fact that even the slightest movement would make them twitch, all of them had a variety of superficial wounds, bruises and, in the case of one unlucky guard, a missing a tooth.

Sitting on the bed, looking equally exhausted, but without a single scratch to her face or neck, sat Nyx with crossed arms, her gaze scanning across the faces of the guards in a methodical manner.

All of them shivered, even Nalia, as they felt that the origin of the gaze was less human, and more like a predatory beast searching for the slightest weakness, ready to pounce without warning.

Weirdly enough, Nyx's mindset wasn't far off, yet as the sunlight started to filter through the window, she couldn't help but lean back into her pillow and close her eyes as she accepted defeat.

If she couldn't escape at night, then there was no hope in the day, and so she decided to save her strength and rest, believing that another opportunity would present itself sooner or later.

Seeing this, the guards breathed a sigh of relief but didn't lessen their vigilance. They were all considered veterans, ex-soldiers who had served their time on the battlefield but after facing Nyx who relied on mind games, tricks and deception, they knew their understanding of war was only one dimensional. She had already tricked them many times so how could they trust that she had really given up and was going to sleep.

Nyx had just dozed off when the door to her room opened, causing her eyes to snap open as she lifted her head to see who had arrived.

"Still sleeping at this time of day?" An old woman, wearing a simple grey dress with many pockets marched in, a large bag under her arms. "Time stops for no one, up you get lazy britches, we're going home."

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"Grannie, you have just met Sis after so long, and you can't even say anything nice?" Harold walked in behind the old woman. While it sounded like he was reprimanding the old woman, the fact that his hands were behind his straight back, as if he were standing in front of a drill sergeant, indicated that it wasn't the case.

"Nonsense, its because everyone is mollycoddling her that Camilla is behaving so wildly. I always told your parents that if you spare the whip, you spoil the child," refuted the woman as she dropped the bag at the bottom of Nyx's bed and started unpacking it.

Nyx had sat up, watching the woman and Harold enter with confusion, her head slightly tilted to the side but, like always said nothing.

After thinking for a bit, while Harold had called her Granny, it didn't look like there were any blood-ties between them so she should be a caregiver of some kind. Thinking this, Nyx flopped back and closed her eyes. She had exhausted herself trying to escape and wanted to sleep.

"Alright, everyone out. I'm going to get our spoilt little princess dressed," shouted Granny as she used her hands to shoo away the guards and Harold.

"With all due respect, I don't think that's a good idea," said Nalia, however the glare from the old woman stopped her from saying anything else.

"You think a newly formed core cultivator is going to cause trouble for a triple gem expert?" laughed the old woman, but there was no humour in her expression. "This little girl will be going home, in a manner fitting her station, whether she likes it or not. Now leave."

"Granny~," whined Harold in a very immature tone, though he had already backed away to the door. "Can't you cut big sis some slack?"

"Don't you start boy," the old woman turned and pointed her bony finger at Harold, causing him to flinch back. "I hear you have only been encouraging this behaviour. Even a good plant will become unstable and weak if you encourage it the wrong way."

Meanwhile, Nyx had shut out the commotion, believing that she was relatively safe with the guards that she couldn't escape around her, and had started to lightly snore.

The sound was quiet and somewhat cute, but it instantly caused a vein on the old woman's head to bulge.

Chilling energy, far more potent than what Nyx could release exploded from the woman, causing the guards to subconsciously to take a step back, awe and respect in their eyes.

However, Nyx's reaction was the most extreme.

The moment Nyx sensed the energy, her eyes snapped open. However, it was like looking into an endless abyss as they were pitch black, not even a hint of other colour could be seen.

At the same moment, she had pushed herself up with one arm, spinning in the air and kicking out with such power, the guards swore they could hear the air being parted.

Her target was the old woman's head, or more precise, her temple. A killing blow for most if they were at the same level or lower.

A look of astonishment flashed across Granny's eyes. However, it was only for a moment as she quickly grabbed Nyx's foot and, as if she were beating a pillow, slammed her back onto the bed.

"Seems like what those old quacks said was true. You've finally decided to stop with all that nonsense and start cultivating." A smile appeared on the old woman's face, as Nyx really was her own granddaughter and had done something extremely pleasing. "Now stop playing about. You have a surprise waiting for you at home."

Nyx's eyes had returned to their original, dark blue colour, her face twisted into a frown as she wondered what had just happened.

All she knew that when she was sleeping, Nyx had sensed a terrifying danger. One she couldn't hope to defeat or escape from and had lashed out, wanting to at least inflict some damage before she was killed.

When her mind had finally woken up, she found she had been thrown back into her pillow, face first, as if she were a rag doll.

Rolling over, Nyx glared at the old woman, unable to resist the urge to speak. "Make me."

Nyx knew that if she gave into the old woman now, it would be tough to resist later and had decided to stand her ground.

Granny's face bloomed into a smile, a genuinely happy and somewhat hopeful smile. "That the spirit. The strong rule while the weak obey. Now, show your old Granny what teeth you have behind that bark."