Walking closer to the exit of the tunnel heightened Mila’s heartbeat. She let Isabel, Amy and Laura move to the front, where they formed a defensive line. Agata craned her neck, nocking an arrow on the bow while the brothers prepared to cast their spells at a moment's notice. Verte and Virr brandished their weapons, ready to plug any holes that could appear in the upcoming clash.

Only Mila and Mortimer hung behind the lines. The twitchy man lamented his fate in whispers while Mila tried to keep her mind clear and focused. She would use any chance to strike. Barcy had refreshed her usual arsenal. She now had her dagger, a set of throwing knives and, in addition, a short sword for more open fights where ambushing wasn’t an option.

Helly’s words became clearer with each step. She wasn’t throwing out cheeky words for once and instead sounded frustrated. “You must let us pass!” She demanded, but there wasn’t much force behind her words.

A bariton replied, but in a language Mila did not speak of. She felt Raran cast a spell, and the words became understandable.

“Don’t call me that. It’s Helly now.”

“That’s how your Grandfather called you, Hellyana. I hesitate to use the same name, but if you wish…”

“I wish to pass.” Helly pleaded. “Can I not?”

“It is dangerous. And you are bringing a stranger with you. Even more people are following behind. Are you asking for their passage as well?”

“No,” Helly stated. “I know the limits of your patience.”

“And yet you brought him and his pet.” The voice was full of curiosity. “How peculiar… You three may pass. Not the rest.”

“Thank you, Gr-”

The voice tutted. “No names. You know that Hellya-... Helly.”

“You use mine.” There was clear displeasure in Helly’s tone.

“You never joined our ranks.” The bariton’s tone indicated regret. “But you have grown a fine woman. If only you found yourself a-”

“We are done. Come, Teeny.” Helly interrupted and, from the sound of it, moved ahead.

At that point, the front line had reached the exit as well. They stepped out in the well-lit room, and Mila followed.

Despite the expectations, no immediate attack came. Mila moved in the shadow of Isabel, using her girl as a cover from the sole inhabitant of the room. Between Isabel’s moving limbs, Mila caught sight of the man protecting this route.

He looked in his fifties, but Mila guessed he was older. Someone who was this powerful had likely led a long life. The man burned with potent energy, ready to be unleashed. Still, his hair and beard were greying. The crystal blue eyes met hers when she looked at him.

“Turn back, and there won't be a conflict.” The man calmly stated while unsheathing his sword. In his other hand, a dagger appeared.

“Not possible.” Viola refused right away. “There is someone worse on our tail.”

The man sighed. “An inquisitor, Hellya-” He stopped. “Helly told me. But I have my reasons to not let you pass.”

“The Inquisitor will not spare you either.” Viola tried to reason. “And-” She glanced at Mila, who gave a sign. “You cannot stop us.”

“It is true.” The man didn’t disagree. He even smiled bravely. “But such odds do get my blood pumping. The guard dogs offered nary a challenge.”

It was unreasonable. From what Mila could tell, the man wasn’t stronger than Laura. On the contrary, he felt much weaker. But there was something else.

The man had looked at Isabel in surprise as if he had felt something unusual. And the previous remark about Andrew… The chance of the man being capable of reading other people's mana was high.

Of course, it could have been an act. The issue with old foxes like these was it was hard to tell when they were pretending or trying to lure you into underestimating them.

And besides the mana, Mila found it hard to read anything else from the opponent. She narrowed her eyes, trying to catch any possible detail and movement of the man-made.

Even then, Mila almost missed it. The man was standing over the deceased bodies of the previous owners of the place, and then he was striking against Laura, who received the blow gracefully.

The man released a pleased ‘Hoh’ sound and dodged backwards when Verte and Amy tried to sandwich him. Laura herself managed to respond belatedly and looked at the man in surprise. “Careful, everyone. He is dangerous.”

Isabel hadn’t followed the quick attack at all. She shook her head and raised her shield, ready to fulfil her role of blocking the opponent, even if she had trouble seeing him move. Isabel stepped forward, placing herself in the middle of the room.

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Together with Amy and Laura, Isabel tried to take away the room the man could move in.

But despite the precarious situation, the man did not look worried. The exit was behind him, and from the short clash, Mila doubted they could stop him from leaving.

The man struck once more, this time testing Amy, who grunted and was kicked back when the enemy’s foot landed on her large shield. It did make him stop, and he returned to his previous position.

Isabel’s mantle was tested next. The man’s blow landed on her shield, and Mila could tell how hard it was for her girl to hold the ground. But she did manage it.

Throughout the man’s actions, they kept pushing forward. The group was careful to not leave a single gap for him to slip past.

The situation didn’t look terrible. It was why Mila decided to warn her comrades. “He was only testing. That’s not the extent of what he can do.” Her words reached the man.

And the opponent grinned. “I cannot win. But I certainly can make your life difficult.”

Mila had adapted to the man’s sudden and erratic movements somewhat. She saw him move again. He wasn’t faster, but the way he changed directions made her head hurt. The man shot towards Amy, whom he had judged to be the weakest link.

And it turned out to be enough. Instead of striking Amy’s shield, he slipped past her. His dagger shot towards the back of the woman’s neck, only intercepted at the last moment by Virr, who suffered a kick to his stomach for his heroics.

But the man was already in their backline. He dodged the couple of bolts Raran had conjured and headed straight for Ugum.

The man had found their healer with just a couple probes. It didn’t surprise Mila. Ugum reactions to the man’s attacks were too telling.

And it also meant Mila was the only one who knew what to expect. She would have done the same. There had been no time to warn the healer, as Mila had to put it all into moving towards Raran. She couldn’t let their healer fall.

Barely, but Mila succeeded. Thankfully, Ugum had managed to take a step back, and his brother bought a second more by launching another magical bolt.

Mila’s throwing knife made the man take a half step where a full one was needed. And then she was there, thrusting her dagger at the man’s torso.

The crafty opponent looked at her in surprise. He changed his sword’s path, intercepting Mila’s blow and forcing her sideways. But it was enough.

Ugum fell back next to Viola and Mortimer. In front of him, Verte held the ground, making it impossible for the man to strike at the healer.

After regaining the footing, Mila tried to strike at the man again, but he was already gone - slipping back to the exit.

“Well, this is a surprise.” The man spoke, ignoring how the front line was moving towards him again - this time in a tighter formation. He eyed Mila with contemplation.

And then the man moved again. Mila followed his movements. She knew he was aiming for her. Laura had concluded the same and intercepted him as he bounced around Amy again.

Not that Laura managed to hold him for long. The man had no intentions to fight the woman, whom he judged dangerous. He parried Laura’s blow and moved towards Mila. The woman simply lost out in skill.

It was something Mila felt actually familiar with. She, too, had lost similarly not so long ago. And this case was even worse. The man was even more skilled than the assassin she had lost against.

But Mila wasn’t alone. She stepped backwards, knowing Isabel was there. As the man’s sword reached out to her, her girl’s shield came from above, receiving the stab.

Using the moment her body was obscured, Mila launched another throwing knife. Then she used Isabel’s stalwart body to push herself towards the man, intending to return a strike of her own.

Only, the man was already retreating. He had been too quick to disengage again. Virr cursed the slippery eel with colourful words.

Not that they impacted the man’s spirit any. He once more stood in front of the exit.

“We just have to push through,” Laura ordered. “He isn’t going to commit to a fight.”

But the man didn’t care for Laura’s words. His eyes were once more on Mila. “The girl there. What’s your name?”

“None of your business,” Isabel growled.

“Oh, on the contrary.” The man disagreed. “I wish to extend an invitation.” He suddenly said. “I feel you have qualities highly sought after by my employers.”

That took the group aback. Mila felt a few glances land on her, wondering what this was about. While it would be easy to say she wasn’t interested, every second the man didn’t move was advantageous to them. So, Mila pretended to think.

Which earned a chuckle from the man. “That’s what I mean. Even now, you show those qualities. But buying more time will not help. I am not alone.” After finishing the sentence, he let out a sharp whistle.

Of course, he wasn’t. Mila had suspected he wouldn’t be. Despite being the weaker party, he hadn’t acted as one. She extended her senses, trying to feel the person coming. “I wish for my name to remain unknown.” Mila finally said.

“Oh, then should I call you Blood-Soaked maden? Such a tacky name.” He shook his head. “Youngsters these days…”

The remainder of the unfortunate alias made Mila feel somewhat gloomy. The moment they moved away from Stilag couldn’t come fast enough. “It wasn’t my choice…” She muttered a tad too defensively.

“Be as it may, my invitation stands.” The man repeated.

“To where?” Viola asked a very reasonable question. “By whom? Who are you? What are your goals? For what purpose?”

“Ah, the Sea-Daughter.” The man acknowledged Viola. “Such a diverse group you have. While you ask important questions, I cannot give answers.”

“Then how do you expect anyone to accept such a shoddy invitation?” Viola raised an eyebrow. “Is everyone from Litvault annoying?

The man chuckled, not bothered by the logic. He didn’t even react to Viola fishing for his point of origin. Instead, he returned to studying everyone else. “Truly. A very spirited group. Except you.” His eyes fell on Mortimer. “Ah, but I see why you are here. Interesting…” He leaned closer.

What was this? Had Mila missed something about Mortimer? She thoroughly scanned the thief again but couldn’t find anything amiss.

And at this point, the man had bought enough time. Laura had not risked rushing him when he had proven so capable of bypassing the defensive front line. And now, the second opponent arrived.

Someone Mila recognised immediately.

“Is this the girl you had trouble with?” The ageing man asked the assassin Mila had lost to.