Chapter 176 – The Silent Watcher

  The howls did not stop.

  They rose and fell like a tide of hatred beyond the walls — a constant reminder that the beasts were still there.

  Waiting.

  Inside the fort, however, order returned with frightening efficiency.

  Selene stood atop the inner wall, voice sharp and unyielding.

  “Earth mages! Seal the breaches first! Reinforce the inner layers — not just the surface!”

  Stone groaned and shifted. Cracks along the battlements slowly fused shut under layers of compacted earth.

  “Patrol units. Sweep every corridor, every storage room, every shadow. If it breathes and we didn’t invite it — kill it.”

  No one questioned her.

  No one hesitated.

  The first assault had shaken them.

  The survival had hardened them.

  Ivaline moved between rows of injured knights, hands moving faintly with bandage and medicine.

  She worked quietly. Efficiently.

  No wasted motion.

  When she’s finished.

  They decided to regroup with the rest.

  Vaelis clung to her right arm, solemn and silent.

  Seraphine walked on her left — jaw tight, gaze sharp.

  When Seraphine’s dissatisfaction grew visible, Ivaline gently intertwined her fingers with hers.

  “Good girl. Behave.”

  “… Yes.”

  Immediate.

  Absolute.

  The Four Bastions followed a step behind.

  Nyssa tried to grab Aldric’s hand.

  He instead waved toward cheering adventurers.

  She pouted dramatically.

  Bram gently patted her head.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Balance restored.

  They approached Selene and Margrave Alaric.

  “We have protect the Margrave,” Ivaline said calmly.

  “I know.”

  Selene smiled.

  Softly.

  Warmly.

  Maternal instinct flickered — the faintest vision of a future where this child might one day call her mother.

  And that smile.

  That gentle expression.

  It froze the air.

  Adventurers exchanged looks.

  Knights stiffened.

  This was not the Guild Master they knew.

  One brave — and catastrophically foolish — clergyman stepped forward and splashed holy water over Selene’s head.

  “O evil spirit! Begone!”

  Silence.

  Then—

  “WHAT THE FRIC ARE YOU DOING YOU BASTARD?!”

  The roar shook dust from the beams.

  The clergyman trembled violently.

  “You’ve returned, Guild Master! The spirit has left you!”

  “I AM NOT POSSESSED!”

  His screams for mercy echoed briefly.

  They were not answered.

  Morale improved dramatically afterward.

  For reasons no one dared analyze.

  The beast army did not attack again.

  They taunted.

  They roared.

  They pounded weapons against shields.

  But they did not commit.

  And that restraint was worse.

  Selene and Margrave Alaric understood.

  “They’re waiting,” Alaric muttered.

  “For something,” Selene replied.

  Neither liked it.

  A strategic council was arranged.

  Rotations along the wall proceeded as planned — Selene had prepared for prolonged siege even before arriving.

  Ivaline and her group were dismissed temporarily.

  Everything appeared normal.

  Prepared beds.

  Supplies arranged.

  Guards posted.

  Nothing out of place.

  Nothing visible.

  “….”

  Ivaline’s eyes narrowed slightly.

  Her perception tickled.

  The world felt… layered.

  “Lyra.”

  A soft laugh echoed.

  “Oh? You can see through it now, Darling?”

  The white-haired assassin shimmered into view, stepping out from distortion like mist peeling away.

  “I’m stronger after fighting Vaelis.”

  “Ivaline.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Welcome.”

  Their exchange was quiet.

  Familiar.

  Too familiar.

  Seraphine’s eyes chilled.

  “Should I remind you that I am her only true wife?”

  Ivaline squeezed her hand.

  “Seraphine. No growling.”

  “… Yes.”

  Vaelis hugged tighter.

  “Big sister scary…”

  Lyra smiled lazily.

  “Bigsis hoards our husband. Isn’t that greedy, little sister?”

  “Yes, Aneue.”

  Seraphine’s eyebrow twitched violently.

  “Y. O. U. T. W. O.”

  The barracks felt more dangerous than the battlefield.

  Ivaline did not laugh.

  Did not respond.

  Her gaze remained forward.

  Inside—

  ‘I felt it again.’

  Chronicle stirred.

  ‘Not Lyra?’

  ‘No.’

  Akashic Record activated.

  [Due to Host’s improvement in Perception]

  [Observer’s Offset has been upgraded to Observer’s Offset +]

  Chronicle clicked his tongue.

  And spat in quiet.

  “I hate you.”

  Then tested it.

  The world sharpened.

  He could zoom perception.

  Shift focus.

  See beyond blur.

  Two alleys away — readable signage.

  Hairline cracks in wood grain.

  And then—

  A silhouette.

  Where nothing should be.

  Another.

  Further back.

  One matching Lyra’s true body.

  But a little off from visual they truly see.

  Maybe her true body apart from the cover of illusion.

  But the second—

  Unknown.

  Following.

  Concealed.

  Matching their movement with subtle delay.

  Not beast.

  Not knight.

  Not mage.

  Watching.

  Ivaline did not react.

  She continued standing.

  Seraphine arguing.

  Vaelis hugging.

  Lyra smiling.

  Normal.

  She let it continue.

  Chronicle observed.

  They would not alert it.

  Not yet.

  The siege outside was only one layer.

  Silva’s contingency was unfolding perfectly.

  The fort was sealed.

  Reinforcements exhausted.

  Beasts trapped outside.

  Humans trapped inside.

  A flawless snare.

  Unless—

  A variable entered the board.

  And somewhere beyond sight, someone had already begun moving.