Stell Castle fell deathly silent.
As a military noble family hardened by years of war, they understood what this meant: Basia City, a port built on overseas trade, had become a battlefield.
Damboro—or rather, Oaisis, who stood behind it—would never allow Aoskar Island to continue existing.
"Wait, Ellie!" Helena sprang to her feet.
Only then did everyone realize... the glowing figure behind Alexei was clearly a Thunderwind Fey.
If Alexei had possessed such a powerful Fey before, one so clearly hiding some kind of plot, he would never have moved into Lucimar's home. Even if Lucimar failed to notice, a Grand Sage lived next door!
Grand Sage Belfran was probably too decent to covet the Thunderwind Fey or spread word of him... but before that became clear, who could have been sure?
No one thought a Grand Sage would fail to detect an elemental being that conspicuous.
Ever since they had seen how useful Grand Sage Ismael's Flame Fey was, countless powerful mages had wanted an elemental being of their own!
Even Grand Sage Finch would probably have been tempted.
Alexei must have acquired the Fey only after he and Ellie grew close... and in Basia City, the only one who could have led him to one was Ellie's Venti.
No, no. Damn it. If that was true... how could Venti possibly belong to Ellie?
Helena gathered up her skirts and hurried toward the garden. Whenever Ellie was home, she liked to spend time there building her synchronization with Venti.
The Ster Family rushed after her. Only Linde hesitated and fell behind.
It wasn't that he didn't care about his sister... he often wanted Ellie to suffer a setback, but he had never wanted her dead.
For the first time, though, Linde felt that luck was a double-edged sword.
He