Belicia's footsteps echoed through the dungeon, drawing closer and closer to him.
The last time he had seen her was on that rainy night.
Luosang the Second's vision was somewhat blurry.
How many years ago had that been?
Where was it? Everstar City? Emerald City? In his secluded, hard-to-find assassin's hut, or in Turnbull's plain, army-watchtower-like leader's quarters?
Luosang the Second tightly shut his eyes.
The footsteps stopped beside him.
"What, surprised to see me?"
Her voice was sweet yet languid, bringing to mind the warm sunlight of winter.
"No." The Bloodline Assassin's voice was hoarse. "Catherine hinted that you'd come."
The woman sighed softly.
"No wonder she's Blade Bitch. She sold me out just like that—without a thought for our old friendship."
Luosang the Second did not open his eyes. He struggled to keep his voice steady. "They sent you to persuade me to surrender?"
"More or less."
"Then that's impo—"
"That's impossible." Belicia finished his sentence first and sighed softly. "We both know that."
Luosang the Second opened his eyes.
He slowly turned his gaze, looking at the person who had come.
Looking at the face he had once known better than anyone.
"But you still came."
Belicia looked different from before.
She was still beautiful and alluring, with a captivating smile—indeed, even more captivating than in the past.
But Luosang the Second knew that she was no longer the girl who had giggled with him on the rooftop as they watched the sunset.
She had not been that girl for a long time.
Or perhaps she had never been.
"You should see the lineup of big shots outside." Belicia let out a long sigh, like an Old Friend complaining about life's troubles. "Did I have a choice?"
Luosang the Second was silent for several seconds.
"You did."