Chapter 296: The Return
Arwin knew that it would have been rude to laugh, but the expression of disbelief on Elias’ features — so stark that it was apparent even through the wrappings covering his entire body — was doing its best to break him.
After all, he wasn’t about to reveal to Elias just why they didn’t care that he and Maeve weren’t human. Just because Elias seemed like he was worthy of helping didn’t mean the man could be completely trusted with every single one of their secrets. There was a difference between a working relationship and a friendship.
One can turn into the other, but there’s no point jumping the gun.
I’d still pay a lot of money to see the look on his real, unbandaged face if I were to reveal that our guild has the Demon Queen and a vampire in it, not to mention whatever the hell Esmerelda is.
Elias swallowed and interlaced his fingers, clearly trying to control his body to prevent from letting on just how simultaneously stressed and relieved he was. “Then we will gratefully take you up on your offer. I’m certain I don’t have to stress this, but please be cautious with our identities. Others are not so kind as—”
“We know,” Lillia said, a gentle note entering her voice. “Don’t worry. Not a single person in this room will ever reveal anything about who you are to anybody else. Your secret will be safe with us — but we still have some more business to deal with before the night is done.”
“We do?” Elias asked. “We… are working together, yes?”
“We are,” Lillia confirmed. “But you said that most teams worked in groups of 3 for the tournament, right?”
Maeve nodded. That seemed to be just about all she could actually do in the purposes of conversation. Arwin was tempted to ask exactly what kind of monster she was, but that felt like a remarkably rude question.