Chapter 340 - 339. A Reckoning Long Overdue (1)
Lyall came to a halt the moment I did, his sharp gaze flickering toward me in silent inquiry. Without a word, I turned and strode straight into a narrow alleyway, my steps measured yet purposeful. The faint murmur of the bustling streets faded behind me as I picked up my pace, weaving through the shadows until I reached a small, worn-down barn. Something felt off. My instincts screamed at me, the air thick with an unnatural tension.
"What’s wrong, Master?" Lyall asked, his voice low.
Instead of answering, I stepped forward and, with a swift kick, sent the wooden door flying open with a deafening crack.
A startled shout came from inside. My gaze swept the dimly lit space, instantly locking onto two small figures huddled against the far wall. A boy—no older than four—stood protectively in front of a girl of the same age, his tiny arms outstretched as if to shield her. Their lavender hair shimmered under the weak light filtering in from the broken door, and their sharp blue eyes, wide with fear, met mine. Twins. Noble blood. Their energy signatures were unmistakable.
Three men stood around them, their ragged clothes and cruel smirks branding them as nothing more than lowly criminals. Now, however, they had turned to face Lyall and me, their expressions shifting to wary aggression.
"Who the hell are you?" one of them demanded, his hand twitching toward his belt.
I ignored him, my focus remaining on the children. The boy’s small hands trembled, but he held firm, his tiny body positioned protectively in front of his sister.
"Close your eyes, children," I instructed, my voice gentle but firm.
One of the thugs sneered and stepped forward, raising a hand as if to grab me. "Oi, bastard, you deaf? Who the—"
He never finished.