"You don't remember anything after that?" Ava asked gently.

Selene hesitated as she gazed into the distance. "It's… hazy," she admitted. "But I… I think… no. I don't know."

"Don't push it," Medea said as she approached, her tone surprisingly soft. "You've been through enough for one day."

Selene nodded slowly, her body sagging against the pillow. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "I don't remember. I… I don't even know how I did it."

"Don't worry about it," Adrian said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We've got your back."

Lilith grinned, brushing a strand of Selene's hair aside. "And now that you're up, the real question is… do you want something to eat?"

Selene managed a faint smile despite the exhaustion in her eyes. "That… would be nice," she said weakly.

Lilith gave her a playful nudge. "Atta girl. You'll be back to kicking ass in no time."

As the group settled back into their camp, Adrian's thoughts lingered on the strange transformation Selene had undergone.

He didn't witness the fight itself but he had seen the aftermath. Her strength, speed, and precision in battle must have been tripled to be able to achieve this.

And the thought of it left more questions than answers.

He kept his gaze fixed on the fire as Lilith and Ava tended to Selene. Medea joined him after a while with an unreadable expression as she leaned against a tree.

"Still thinking about it?" she asked quietly.

Adrian nodded. "It doesn't make sense. Selene isn't… wasn't like that."

"She'll remember more eventually," Medea said. "But right now, you should focus on keeping us all alive. She's safe. That's what matters."

Adrian exhaled deeply, nodding. "For now," he said.

But his gaze remained fixed on the darkness beyond the firelight, his mind already working on what lay ahead.

****************

The city of Grozh came into view as the morning sun lit up its tall, detailed spires with a warm golden glow. The large markets were lively, buzzing with chatter, the sound of wheels rolling over cobblestones, and vendors calling out to sell their goods.

Adrian guided the group to the city gates, and for a moment, the stress of their time in the forest faded as they were drawn to the comforts of city life.

"This place is massive," Lilith said, her crimson eyes scanning the towering walls with interest. "I'm sure I could get lost here… if I wanted to."

Eris smirked, adjusting her cloak as they passed a caravan entering the gates. "A city this size? Chaos just waiting to happen. My kind of place."

Ava, however, looked positively gleeful. Her golden eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands together. "A bustling market! Oh, the opportunities!" she exclaimed. "I could make a fortune here. Exotic trinkets, rare potions—maybe even a few weapons."

Adrian gave her a pointed look as they entered the city. "While you're out there indulging your greed, keep your ears open. We need to know if the Shadow Court's agents have been here."

Ava waved a hand dismissively. "Of course, of course. But a girl has to make a living, doesn't she?"

Selene trailed at the back of the group, her silver cloak pulled tightly around her shoulders. The lively crowds made her uneasy, and she avoided making eye contact with anyone.

At one point, a street performer juggling knives caused her to flinch visibly, her timid demeanor drawing curious glances from the others.

Lilith slowed her pace, her brows furrowing as she observed Selene. "Are you all right?" she asked in an uncharacteristically gentle voice.

Selene nodded quickly, though her hands trembled slightly. "I'm fine," she said quietly. "It's just… there are so many people."

Eris rolled her eyes, sauntering over with her usual swagger. "So, let me get this straight," she began in a sarcastic manner. "You can take down two assassins and a clone master in the middle of nowhere, but the sight of a crowd makes you quake in your boots?"

Selene didn't reply, her gaze fixed on the ground.

"Maybe she's pretending," Eris added, her emerald eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Who's to say she's not working for the Shadow Court? She could've staged that whole fight to gain our trust."

"That's enough," Adrian said sharply, stepping between Eris and Selene. "She's one of us, and she's been through hell. Lay off."

Eris held up her hands in mock surrender. "Just saying. We don't know everything about her."

Abyss, who had been quiet, gave Eris a cold look. "Not everything is about you, Eris. Let her breathe."

The group walked through the busy streets and soon found a fancy hotel located in the center of the city. The impressive front sparkled in the sunlight, and the staff welcomed them with friendly smiles and bows as they walked in.

"This place will do," Adrian said after a brief discussion with the hotel manager. He handed over a pouch of coins and secured their rooms. "Everyone, get some rest. We regroup at sundown."

The rooms were nothing short of extravagant. Gilded furniture, soft feather mattresses, and large, steaming baths awaited each of them.

Lilith wasted no time making herself at home, reclining on a chaise lounge with a satisfied sigh. Abyss, however, seemed restless, pacing her room before wandering out into the hall.

Adrian, exhausted but determined, ran a hand through his hair as he filled the large tub in his room. The tension of the past few days weighed heavily on him, and the thought of a warm bath was too tempting to ignore.

Just as he settled into the steaming water, the door creaked open. Adrian frowned. "Who—"

Lilith strolled in, her crimson eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oops," she said in an entirely insincere voice. "Wrong room."

Adrian raised an eyebrow, covering himself with a towel. "Lilith. What are you doing here?"

"Oh, don't be so uptight," she purred, leaning against the doorframe. "I was just… curious, wanted to see how nice your room is. It's not every day we find ourselves in a nice accommodation like this one."

Before Adrian could respond, a second figure appeared in the doorway—Abyss, her violet eyes narrowing as she took in the scene. "What's going on here?" she demanded in a sharp voice.

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