Elliot's expression immediately darkened.
Evan had disappeared? Right now?
Was this Tobias's retaliation?
He did not dare act against Elliot, so he had targeted Evan as punishment?
Elliot frowned.
No, that was not right.
The Helms Family was no less powerful than the Sterling Family. Elliot had openly mocked him, and by the rules of the nobility, Tobias could have responded directly.
Targeting an attendant instead would only seem cowardly and beneath him.
Besides, a full five of the Seven Holy Bloodlines were at the banquet. Surely he could not have been afraid.
Elliot had thought Tobias would not stop him, but simply let him leave and clash with him another day. That would have been in keeping with the nobility's usual conduct.
Could he really have so little regard for the rules?
Yet Elliot vaguely felt something was wrong. That familiar feeling was still beside him, as though Evan had not gone far.
Strange.
Suddenly, inspiration struck, and he activated [Spirit Vision].
Spirituality gathered in his eyes. He focused on his surroundings, then drew in a sharp breath.
Beside him, he saw a familiar figure.
Short, clad in a hooded robe, with mechanical prostheses faintly visible beneath it.
It was Evan.
Elliot deactivated [Spirit Vision], and Evan's figure vanished with it.
"Evan?"
Evan did not respond.
He called out again with Spirit Vision active, but Evan's phantom still gave no answer.
Elliot pulled Cora over. Startled, she had yet to react when Elliot spoke softly into her ear. "Can you see him?"
"S-see who?"
They had suddenly drawn extremely close. Cora felt her throat go a little dry, but she still asked in confusion.
"The attendant who's been following me."
"Attendant?" Cora froze. "You've been alone the whole time. There wasn't any attendant!"
Elliot's heart sank.
He did not