The knocking on the doors rose Mila from her sleep. For a moment, she lay unmoving before forcing herself to care again.

Curiously, it was Bazil who was knocking. “Mila?” He knocked again. “You there?”

“I am.” Mila found her voice to be coarse. “I am.” She tried again more forcefully.

“Mom wants to see you.” Basil left the message and left.

Mila opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. Forcefully reigning in her emotions wasn’t healthy. She knew better than to do that, but it had been necessary.

It wasn’t the first time and likely wouldn’t be the last.

And now Mila had something to soothe her overtaxed mind. She climbed out of the bed. Her body felt sluggish in a different way than after the usual workout.

There currently was only one wish she had. Mila took a deep breath and moved.

Once Mila was outside in the courtyard, her eyes combed the surroundings, searching for Isabel. She had not been in her room. It was the first place she had checked.

And there she was. Isabel was standing next to Tiff, exchanging words.

Mila found herself midway towards her girl before she knew it. She needed a respite.

Isabel noticed Mila almost immediately. Luckily, she didn’t run away, although Mila’s girl did look ashamed.

But once Isabel looked at Mila again, her face changed into worry. “What’s wrong?” She started to move as well.

Mila didn’t answer. She didn’t want to lie. But telling the truth felt too heavy. She couldn’t do that either. The thought alone made her head hurt.

When they reached each other, Mila wrapped her arms around Isabel’s waist and rested her head against her chest, simply breathing for a while.

“Uh, Mila, we are not alone,” Isabel whispered. She nervously fidgeted but did return the hug.

“It matters not,” Mila murmured, her voice muffled by Isabel’s clothes. She felt herself relax.

Mila could guess what this dream meant.

Was it a warning? Did it show the horrors that could happen? Was that the path she was heading down? Was the dream meant to make her doubt herself? Was it a lesson to learn from? If so, what was the underlying question?

But in the end, it didn’t change anything. Mila pushed away the desire to melt into Isabel’s embrace and pulled away from her girl. “Just a bad dream.” She finally revealed.

Isabel nodded. She let Mila slip away, sighing in relief, while her face showed regret for the quick separation.

It was, as always, puzzling Mila how torn Isabel was about showing affection. She clearly enjoyed it when it happened but got embarrassed easily.

As cute as it was, it was also frustrating for Mila. She wanted Isabel to be more forward with her feelings.

Isabel wasn’t fooling anyone anyway.

Mila sighed. This wasn’t it. She was escaping her own problems. But while the thought paralysis had subsided, she still was not in the shape to confront her own demons.

“Wanna talk about it?” Isabel glared at Bazil, who had said something to Nordly and Kefo.

“Not now. It will take time.” Mila avoided. “Now!” She let everything that hindered her flow out of her body. “Where is Hanna?”

“Mom is in her room.” Bazil helpfully inserted.

“I see,” Mila nodded and turned towards where Hanna worked.

“No, in her room. Her bedroom.” This time, it was Nordly who spoke. He avoided looking at Mila, making it awkward. “With Dad.”

Mila carefully nodded. “I’ll see her now.” She nodded to Isabel, who returned to where Tiff was waiting.

Upon entering Obron’s family’s personal quarters, Mila paused. She didn’t know where the family’s head’s room was. She extended her senses and soon found it.

She walked towards where the mana signature was. Mila found Hanna in a simple, homely room. She was sitting next to the bed where Harry was sleeping. The room smelled of the woman’s workroom. The nightstand was covered in empty vials.

“Shouldn’t be long now,” Hanna spoke, slightly slurring her words. “As the evening comes, people will be arriving, bringing their tools of death.” Her voice was grim.

Mila nodded. That was the plan. Percy would be joining them, coordinating the new arrivals. Telling them where to go.

“We will leave tomorrow evening.” Hanna continued. “Before the madness starts. Silinth… He-” She shook her head. “He told me to stop. He said it’s pointless to continue pretending what I do is making anything better.” A tear rolled down her cheek.

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Hanna grabbed the unconscious Harry’s hand and squeezed it. She took a shaky breath, then, with her free hand, pulled a small bottle out of a pocket and threw it to Mila. “Here. It’s the best I can do. My Mother’s recipe. I am not that good. My passion was in healing.”

Mila grabbed the bottle and studied it. “Anything I should know before applying it?”

“Just be careful. Once applied to a weapon, the poison will not degrade for about half an hour. You have to introduce it directly into the bloodstream for it to work the best. And you don’t need much. ” Hanna explained. “It will take effect immediately by paralysing the body as the blood flows until it can function no more.”

“Thank you.” Mila slightly bowed. “This will help tremendously.”

There was no answer. Hanna returned her attention to the sleeping man. She moved her lips as if apologising again and again.

Seeing Hanna’s disinterest in anything else, Mila excused herself.

When she stepped back into the courtyard, Percy was already waiting. He nervously waved upon seeing Mila. “Hey! Glad to see you. This is Pepper.” He pointed at the woman next to him.

Pepper frowned upon hearing the name. “Great to see you again.” She nodded with a touch of sarcasm in her voice. “My name is Pepper.” Her tone made the displeasure of being introduced this way clear.

It was the same voice that had stopped Percy last night. Pepper was in her early twenties at best. Just like the man she had arrived with, she was almost entirely unremarkable, with only her eyes flashing in cold light occasionally.

A trait Mila knew some occupations appreciated very much. She returned the greeting.

“I wanted to ask,” Pepper walked closer to Mila while studying her. “How did you notice me?”

“Hmm, whatever do you mean?” Mila tilted her head. “I just saw you on the roof and got scared. I might have overreacted just then.”

“Oh, I am sorry I startled you.” Pepper slightly smiled, finding Mila’s words amusing. “But I really wanted to see someone who could, by accident no less, make my job so much more difficult.”

“Indeed, I can relate. Such an event is highly unusual.” Mila pretended to understand. She, too, wanted to know how Pepper had managed to track her. “My steps are so light, I never imagined for someone to find me exploring the town.”

Pepper’s smile grew wider. She appeared to enjoy the conversation more and more.

Mila felt a tiny tug at the corner of her lip, and suddenly, Isabel appeared in front of her and stared down at Pepper. “What do you want?”

“Uh, may I help you… Isabel?” Pepper hesitated. “I had something to discuss with Mila.”

“Isabel?” Mila moved around her girl.

“What?” Isabel did not take her eyes off Pepper.

“Are you doing what I am assuming you are doing?” Mila pushed her index finger against Isabel’s back and traced it down, making the girl shudder.

“S-stop that!” Isabel suddenly lost much of her intensity. “I am not doing anything.” She looked back at Pepper before dodging Mila’s finger.

Isabel’s blush and embarrassment were exceedingly captivating. Mila considered her beautiful companion before Pepper interrupted by coughing.

“Jokes aside, I do want to know how you did that.” Pepper pushed a lock of hair away from her face and leaned closer to Mila.

And Mila did not miss how Pepper glanced at Isabel, barely hiding her amusement. “Oh, I am not sure. It would take a while to explain that night's happenings.”

“I think we have some time before the first batch of our troopers arrive.” Pepper’s smile grew mischievous. “We could find a quieter place and-”

“While an enticing offer, I do have prior arrangements,” Mila replied while watching Isabel grow redder by the moment.

“Ah, but I have so many things to share…” Pepper emphasised her rather sizeable bosom.

“Mila said no!” Isabel inserted herself between them once again and pushed Pepper back. She was practically fuming in anger.

It was too much for Pepper. “Pfffwhahahahahah,” Her clear laughter filled the courtyard. “This is a riot!” She struggled to breathe, then laughed some more.

Mila felt herself break into a smile while Isabel stared at Pepper in confusion.

“What?” Isabel didn’t get it. And when she noticed Mila’s expression, her mouth fell open. “Th- That was on purpose?” She asked in horror.

“Ahahaha, sorry, sorry!” Pepper wheezed.

“That was so mean!” Isabel glared, only this time at Mila.

“No, you see…” Mila schooled her expression, suddenly finding herself in a very unfavourable situation. “I didn’t know?” She tried.

“You didn’t know?” Isabel’s voice fell an octave. “Oh, no.” She looked around, and seeing the eyes on them, she groaned while covering her face. “Oh, no, no.”

“Isabel, I didn’t mean to!” Mila suddenly felt horrible. This was mean. “I am so sorry!”

“Eehehe, it wasn’t Mila’s fault.” Pepper reasoned. “So what, you two a thing?”

“No!” Isabel shouted in denial.

“Ugh,” Mila felt like someone had punched her in the stomach.

“Wait!” Isabel realised what she had done. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I didn’t mean to, Mila.”

“So it’s complicated?” Pepper wasn’t bothered. “Anyway, my real name is Viola.”

“Hey!” From somewhere, Percy’s shocked voice reminded them they were still in the open.

“And that guy’s real name is-”

“Don’t tell them that,” Percy shouted from the warehouse.

“I guess the man should introduce himself.” Viola shrugged.

“I am so sorry.” Isabel lowered herself to Mila.

“No, I get it.” Mila didn’t let it bother her. It didn’t quite succeed. “I get it.” She repeated, this time, it sounded more persuasive. “And I am sorry, too.”

“Uh, hello?” Viola tried to get their attention. “I thought we were talking?”

“That’s how it usually is.” Andrew’s tired voice explained from a bit further away. “Ignore them.”

“But I wanted to talk?” Viola wasn’t deterred. She poked Isabel’s back, making the girl jump.

“Don’t do that.” Mila’s reprimanded.

“Very scary,” Viola noted. “But I am still curious. I will tell you how I did if you tell me how you did.”

Mila opened her mouth to turn the woman down before Percy appeared behind Viola and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Now, what do I hear?” There was a throbbing wain on his forehead. “Are you planning on sharing state secrets?”

“Don’t even joke about that!” Viola turned around. “That would land me in the gallows.”

“Then shut up and come with me.” Percy hissed. “We have to move some boxes around to have enough space.” He started to pull Viola away from Mila and Isabel.

“See you later.” Viola waved.

As they watched them leave, Isabel could not help but add. “I don’t like her.”

Mila couldn’t quite agree. “Miss Viola wasn’t all that bad-” And she stopped.

“Oh, wasn’t she?” Isabel glared.

“But Isabel,” Mila leaned on the taller girl, pressing against Isabel’s side. “I have my eyes only on you.” She ignored the theatrical gagging from Andrew, who was heading towards his room.

“I- I mean,” Isabel’s body trembled, and her arms twitched. She appeared to want to hug Mila. “I know that.”

“But what’s this?” Mila sadly continued. “You gave such a strong denial when the question of our relationships was raised.” It had actually hurt. She wasn’t playing up all that much.

“No, no, no!” Isabel shook her head. “That was my mistake, okay?” She tried to explain. “I just-” There wasn’t a good reason. “It was-” Still nothing.

“Isabel.” Mila met her girl’s wavering eyes. “Tomorrow we will have a date.” She waited for Isabel to nod. “We will talk about what our relationships are.”

Isabel nodded again. “R-righ?” She was unsure what Mila was getting at.

“And after we are done talking,” Mila felt her voice grow a bit cold. “I won’t ever allow you to deny what we have ever again.” She informed. “Are we clear?”

“Yes.” Isabel’s breathing grew bothered. Her eyes trembled as she gazed into Mila’s eyes. She licked her lips, presenting her naked desire clearly.

Mila pressed closer to Isabel. Her own heartbeat raced. It was so hard to hold back from doing more.

Having more.

“Good.” Mila hoped her flush wasn’t too noticeable. “That’s good.” She felt shame rising. This wasn’t an appropriate reaction. She had definitely pushed too hard.

Slowly, Mila separated herself from Isabel. Her girl moved as well.

This all had been too much for Isabel. She still looked at Mila longingly, but it was clear she wasn’t comfortable.

“I have some preparation I have to do.” Mila gave Isabel a way out. “I’ll be seeing you later. And don’t forget - tomorrow at noon.” She smiled devilishly.

And it was the truth. Mila had to prepare properly. Getting her body ready was a chore she was not looking forward to. But it would all be worth to see Isabel’s reaction.

Mila paused. And she had to get her dress from the seamstress before it got too dark. After that, she wanted to see what exactly Percy’s and Viola’s group was up to.

There was so much to do.