041

I separated from Lara, she went to her work and I went back to slacking around.

But this wasn’t by choice, I still had a few more questions I wanted to ask her but I wasn’t able to.

I wasn’t something she said, but rather something I felt. You see, ever since she came up to talk to me, I’ve been feeling someone’s gaze on me. It wasn’t much at first, and I thought it was just some weirdo jealous of the pretty girl standing with me.

It wasn’t anything new after all. I got them even when I walked around with Rachael or even talk to her in public. Most of the time it isn’t something hostile.

But this time, it was different. It started off the same way but before I noticed it, it lingered on. I tried to sense the person in reverse but for some reason I wasn’t able to.

I mean, I could tell he or she was looking at me, but no matter how much I tried I wasn’t able to locate them.

And this feeling continued. For as long as she was with me, this feeling of being watched was also there.

As we reached the union, I had first intended to go in and look for some requests but that’ll have to wait, so I purposefully stayed outside the building and let her go inside.

I wanted to check if the person was eyeing me for me or because I was with her.

The moment she went in, the person’s vision stayed but soon enough, almost disappeared, but before it did, I strengthened my [Awareness] towards those last remaining remnants of his presence.

And I got him!

It was the alleyway besides the building directly in front of the union building.

I immediately rushed over to there, I also activated [Sprint]. My Qi had recovered enough that if I wanted to, I could even fight this person.

But things didn’t go to that.

The moment I entered the alley, the presence of the person vanished. Almost instantaneously.

Damn it!

I cursed inwardly.

I looked around a bit and probed a little with [Awareness]. No luck.

He got away. I gave up and turned away to leave, but the instance that I did, I felt cold sweat on my back and I jumped to the side almost immediately.

The place I had just stood was scorched and there was a mark left on the ground.

My body surely wouldn’t have died with such an attack but it would’ve definitely given the opponent an opportunity to strike again.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

I reacted quickly, and seeing as I was in an alleyway, I looked around and soon saw a small plank of wood to the side.

I picked it up and judging by the trajectory that attack came from, I threw the plank with as much power as I could.

I tore through the air despite not being aerodynamic at all. All of this happened in an instant so I was hoping to hit the person himself with it but sadly didn’t.

My attack passed empty air and the presence itself was gone. Grumbling, I left the alleyway.

Unknown - POV.

What the fuck was that throw!?

It barely missed me by the hair, if I hadn’t moved a little when I saw him reaching for the plank, I would’ve surely been hit.

That man is dangerous.

He needs to know.

I can’t believe this many people are trying to get in master’s way. We were even ready for contact, but this guy had to jump in.

All of this started this morning.

I have followed Lady Lara every single day for the past month or so, from the moment she goes out of her house to the moment she goes back in. All was good. She had never once detected me, not even once, I take pride in my abilities as a thief.

But today, something happened. Call it bad luck or whatever, she sensed me, I don’t know how, but I slipped up somehow and she became aware of my presence.

After that, I tried very hard to hide myself again, but it didn’t seem to do much, she was spooked, and due to her special skill, she had locked herself on my presence. But I can’t just go away, he will kill me if I do that.

So I still kept watch but I increased the distance between us.

Soon, she made contact with that man. That cripple. I almost praised my luck for that. She just had to lose her focus for a moment and my stealth effect would be back making me almost invisible.

At first she kept looking around, trying to stick close to the man, it was clear she had chosen him to protect herself.

I almost laughed. Almost. Because that is when I sensed it.

Those eyes. Those damned predatory eyes, looking for me. It was like a beast, no, a monster had set its eyes on me.

I almost lost focus and was about to give away my position, but thankfully, my fear kept it up. And I was able to protect myself.

I was even scared to breathe.

But his eyes calmed down a bit after a while, I said calmed down because he didn’t stop looking for me, I could still feel that icy stare go by me a few times.

I still shiver thinking about it.

But eventually they reached the union and she went back in. I too was about to leave as there was someone else at the union to keep watch.

But I guess he was waiting for me to do that, as the moment I moved into the alley, those monstrous eyes locked into me and my position was given away, he rushed here with the speed I’ve never seen before.

I activated my wind magic [Air Elevator] in panic and rushed to the roof of the building.

It was a very stupid thing to do. If it were a mage here, he would’ve surely traced the magic energy to my position but lucky for me he couldn’t do that.

But I was still scared. I felt cold sweat on my palms and my breathing had increased. I was terrified.

I was only a hair’s length away from being found out. And I’m not that scared of this guy, even if I managed to live and go back, I’d have to face him with my failure of being caught.

No!

I screamed in my head. It was maybe because of this that I couldn’t think straight.

The moment I saw his back turned to me, I saw it as an opportunity, I jumped on it.

But he dodged and not only that, he threw something back.

The plank passed by me and I praised the Dark Immortal in my head and ran away.

Today was not a good day, I better inform the others of him before informing that guy.