"This human is Renato Black Blade? How could..."
"No wonder that black sword and armor looked so familiar. I was wondering how a male Drow could be so tall. So he was a human..."
At the Priestess's revelation, the Nightwind Guards began whispering among themselves, seemingly stunned by Renato's human identity.
But Tristana paid no attention to the changes in the family guards' expressions, nor did she intend to explain.
She flicked the Adamantine Whip, sending a sharp hiss through the air, then lifted her chin and commanded Renato in an imperious tone:
"Kneel now, then present me with the artifact the Goddess demanded. Perhaps I might lessen your punishment a little-only flay you, for instance..."
"Tristana, what did you do to Klauthsura?"
The human swordsman before her cut her off bluntly. Renato's voice was quiet, yet it reached the Priestess's ears with perfect calm.
Tristana suddenly realized that, in every memory she had of him, this swordsman seemed to have always carried himself with the same unshakable resolve.
Fearless, his fighting spirit undiminished.
A nameless fury burned in her chest. The Priestess's face twitched slightly, and she could not help tightening her grip on the Serpent Whip. Deliberately slowing her speech, she said:
"Suffocation, darkness, crushing pressure... 'Even before an enemy dies, the Goddess can send them to their grave.'"
Tristana stared intently at his face, hoping to catch a flicker of uncertainty, anger, or human despair.
"I imagine Klauthsura must be suffering terribly right now, buried alive by that spell, regretting ever having met a human like you."
Yet the black smoke enveloping the swordsman swelled and churned ever more fiercely. Shadow energy seemed to seep ceaselessly through the gaps in his armor, concealing Renato entirely in darkness.
Tristana watched that silent figure, the delight in her voice