Siderius returned to his room. He took off the noble clothes and put his hunter uniform and armor back on. Knowing that there would be danger, it'd be incredibly foolish to not prepare.

He opened the window and whistled. Lycan quickly ran inside from the courtyard.

"Stay near me. There will be blood." Siderius said.

Lycan saluted him.

The hunter quickly equipped his sword and utility belt. Finally, Siderius grabbed the Joker Mask.

He hesitated for a moment before putting it on.

Secretly, the guards and soldiers inside the Arist's estate were moving and preparing for war. On the outside, they were still talking and laughing like nothing happened.

Outside Avadine, a band of carriages were approaching.

Renald Slade, lord of Avarum, sat in his carriage with his general, a bearded muscular man with a bald head.

"Is everything ready?" Slade said.

"It has been arranged. All of our allies have arrived at the Arist's estate. We have already surrounded the place.

Even if Ruben realizes something was off, it is already too late." Barrick said.

Slade grinned widely. "Ruben Arist. He has been a thorn in my eyes for quite a while now. This rich Avadine city shall be mine soon."

"Did High Lord Rufus approve this attack, my lord?"

"Of course, he does. Why else do you think so many nobles agree to help us? That man is arrogant. He dared to decline Lord Rufus's marriage proposal."

"This involves his daughter, Lady Nina, I assume?"

"Lady? Pfft! She will soon become nothing more than a cheap whore. She would have been a great concubine for Lord Rufus. But no, she had to refuse.

Who does she think she is? A daughter of an ordinary noble. The Arist Clan got what is coming to them."

The carriage suddenly stopped. A soldier rushed to Slade's carriage.

"My lord!"

"Yes? Is there anything wrong?" Slade said.

"There is one, my lord! There is an unfamiliar High Lord in the Arist's estate. They called him Lord Nyx!

From what I've gathered, he has just slain the Foglight's Vulture all by himself."

Salade pupils dilated. He rubbed his fingers together, thinking deeply.

"I don't recognize any High Lord with the name Nyx. That Chaos Beast… It is around the level of a Witchling. But can he be a Lesser Witch?"

Barrick the general chuckled. "My lord. You are worrying too much. A Lesser Witch is the same level as Lord Rufus, a Count. No count would lower themselves to slaying a mere Chaos Beast."

"You're right… But still, we have to be ready. Lord Rufus wants to see Clan Arist fall."

Slade turned his head to the soldier outside.

"Get me a Dimming Stone."

The soldier widened his eyes. "It will be presented at the banquet tonight, my lord!"

Slade nodded. "With the Dimming Stone, no matter who that witch is, he better stays out of our way or be killed with the Arists."

Time flowed by. Seconds by seconds. Ruben had never experienced time this slow before. Everything became a threat and every minor noise was a potential danger.

Beside him were five of his best warriors.

Dolores and Nine were both in his office.

"What is going on, father?" Nina said.

Ruben's expression darkened. "There might be an attack tonight."

"Are you sure, dear? We have just announced the banquet not long ago. Even if someone wants to attack us…"

Ruben walked to the window and looked outside. He could see the issues of the crowded soldiers outside even clearer.

"Exactly. Then why do these nobles have prepared so many soldiers in such a short amount of time?

They've been waiting. The banquet was simply a good reason to attack since they thought we would be distracted."

Dolores took a deep breath. Even now, she didn't seem to panic. She wasn't just a mere Lady.

"I can't reach my clan in time. It'd take at least two days for us to receive reinforcement. Our best bet is to fight our way out now, using the element of surprise."

"I thought so too, Dolores. But that isn't our best bet. Our best bet is Nyx."

Dolores widened her eyes. "He hasn't left yet? Even as a witch, he should have gotten the hell out of here long ago.

Or did you not tell him?"

Ruben smiled in bitterness. "He is the one who notices the strangeness of the noble, my dear. He told me.

And no, he didn't leave. Nyx decided to stay behind and helped us."

Hope returned to Nina and Dolores immediately. A witch could replace dozens of warriors. With Nyx, their chance of survival was greatly increased.

"But still. We don't know what is going to happen. And we don't know how powerful our enemy force is.

When the battle happens, it'll be the best chance for you two to escape. I will arrange a group of soldiers to escort you away."

"No, father! I will not leave you!"

"Shut up, Nina! This time, you must obey me. If not for our own good then for the good of your mother."

Nina slumped back down on her chair.

Dolores's face dimmed down. "Survive, my dear. Even if you die, my clan will avenge you."

"Mother?" Nina widened her eyes.

Ruben smiled. "I know, my dear. I know. Take care of our daughter for me."

Dolores nodded.

"That witch. Nyx. He is trustworthy. The kid is still young so he doesn't think about marriage now. But if you can, try to marry Nina to him." Ruben said.

Nina blushed but didn't say anything.

"I will try my best dear."

With that, everything went into motion.

The caravan of Lord Slade stopped in front of the Arists's estate. He stomped out of his carriage. The thick sole of his shoes engraved on the soft dirt below.

Slade took a deep breath, taking in the fresh air of Avadine.

"Beautiful little Nina… I am coming for you now." Slade grinned widely.

The maids and servants of the estate didn't know anything. They kept on preparing the banquet normally.

Amongst them was Rea. Her blonde hair shined and stood out from the rest.

Siderius entered the banquet area and immediately, everyone noticed him. He wasn't a man that would easily be brushed away.

A tall man with white hair. He wore his uniform and gray armor with the two scabbards on his waist. All the servants wondered the same thing, why did he look like he was going into battle?

Siderius noticed Rea and walked to her.

"Come with me."

Rea couldn't believe her ears.

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