Chapter 72

Chapter 72


I couldn't help but look back again. Brix remained standing in place, silently watching me. Amidst the heavy downpour, I slowly turned around and went back.

I stood in front of him.

“D-did I almost break my promise?” I asked.

With a low and exhausted voice, he replied, “Almost.”

I forced a smile.

“I still trust you, Brix.”

I could see the relief on his face upon hearing that.

I reached out to his face and gently wiped a raindrop from it. “Lead your army now. I’ll just check on Celeste and the others.”

He held the hand I placed on his cheek and brought it to his lips. “Please, be safe...”

“You too...”

Slowly, he let go of my hand. He stared at me for a few more seconds before turning around. In a blink, I was left alone under the heavy rain.

I reached behind me for my weapons. I ran off to find Celeste and the others. They probably didn’t know yet that a secret attack was already underway.

I saw Erikson stepping out of the new building.

I approached him. “Where’s Celeste?”

He was surprised by my sudden appearance. “She’s resting. Your room is ready too—”

“We can’t rest yet. They’re starting.”

He looked confused. “What? That’s impossible. The entrances are heavily guarded. There’s no way they could get in without us knowing.” His eyes shifted to my soaking wet body. “Where did you come from?”

I shook my head and took a deep breath. “I don’t know how it happened either—”

“What’s going on?” Randolf suddenly appeared behind Erikson, still yawning. “Why are you two outside?”

“Astra said we’re being attacked,” Erikson still didn’t sound convinced.

“How?” Randolf also asked.

“Guys!” We all turned to Nigel who was running toward us, gripping his sword tightly. “Brix is calling for us!”

“Wait, what? So, we are under attack?” Randolf asked, confused.

“We need to move now!” Nigel was panicking. “We have to gather everyone!”

“I’ll wake Celeste!” Randolf said before running back inside.

I turned to Nigel. “What kind of attack are they making?”

“I don’t know either, Astra—”

My eyes widened in shock as someone stabbed Nigel in the chest. The sword pierced through him, and he collapsed in front of us as blood gushed out.

“N-Nigel...” I looked at the attacker. “What did you do, Yngritt?”

Erikson quickly moved in front of me, blocking me. “What the fuck was that for, Miss Vienzara?”

“See for yourself.”

I looked down at Nigel. I gasped as I realized—it wasn’t really Nigel.

“Open your eyes. Trust no one.” Lady Vienzara turned her back and disappeared into the rain.

“You were right. This is the work of the witches,” Erikson said, facing me. “This is not good.”

“I—I know...” I swallowed.

They almost lured us into a trap.

“Listen, Astra,” Erikson said seriously. “Don’t trust me. If you ever feel threatened because of me, don’t trust me. If you need to kill me—do it.”

“They won’t be able to copy you,” I smiled. “I know you well...”

“No. They’ve probably memorized who to copy. It will be hard to tell who’s real. So… I want you to kill me if necessary. Whatever it takes to survive—do it!”

“Let’s go!” Randolf and Celeste arrived.

Celeste walked up to me and handed me a jacket. “Are you okay, Astra?”

“Where’s Nigel?” Randolf asked. He looked down at the corpse in front of us. “Who’s that?”

“We are under attack by witches. They’re copying our appearances to confuse us,” Erikson said seriously. “Be careful. We almost became victims.”

“Shit.” Randolf ran his hands through his hair. “This is unfair.”

“For now, we should stick together,” I said. “This is their first move. They won’t stick to this plan until the end. They’re waiting for the right moment...”

On the far side, a group of troops was in chaos—fighting amongst themselves. I quickly noticed some were hesitant to attack—those were likely the real ones.

I reached for my arrows and loaded three onto my bow, aiming at the group.

“Careful,” Erikson reminded me.

I smirked as I released the arrows. In a second, three of them fell. Since they didn’t react, we knew I was right. Vampires can survive my arrow poison. Witches can’t.

“You’re getting better,” Celeste praised.

I turned to my companions. “We can’t just stand here. Let’s help them. But we stick together. It’s easy to spot impostors—they’re the ones who attack without hesitation.”

“We need to use ordinary swords too,” Randolf added. “Not our own. Our weapons can kill our own kind. But with ordinary swords, only vampires can survive. Witches are still human. They aren’t immortal.”

“I know where the weapons are,” Celeste said. “I scouted earlier.”

“Wait. Can we trust you?” Randolf asked.

Celeste rolled her eyes. “Then don’t. Leave Mr. Wenson here—”

“Kidding, milove!” he laughed.

I just shook my head. This is why I won’t have trouble telling who’s real. Their cheesy lines—no one else could make them up but them.

As we followed Celeste, we saw just how big the chaos had gotten. I wanted to help, but I had limited arrows. I had to save them for myself.

“Just don’t look,” Erikson said.

So I didn’t. I ignored the chaos. Erikson’s arm stayed behind me, making sure I didn’t get separated.

The rain kept pouring, wind howling. All I could hear were the drops, the clashing swords, and soldiers running.

“Here!” Randolf tossed me a sword, and I caught it.

I put my bow and arrows on my back and gripped the sword tightly. I preferred arrows, but Abel taught me well.

“Is that enough for you?” Erikson came over, twirling his weapon like a toy. “There are lighter ones.”

“No, this is good.” I swung it around too.

“We’ll help them, but don’t get too carried away,” Randolf instructed. “Always watch your back. Don’t get separated. If you do, make sure you’re with at least one of us. I’ll watch over Celeste. You stay with Astra, Mr. Nadija.”

I went to Celeste. She was staring at her weapon.

“You can do it,” I told her.

“I always wanted to hold one and join a fight,” she murmured.

Randolf frowned. “Oh, come on. I can’t believe you’re enjoying this.”

“You never let me hold one,” Celeste pouted.

Randolf put his arm around her, whispering in her ear. “So it’s my fault I didn’t want your hands to get dirty?”

“Enough already!” Erikson interrupted.

Randolf laughed. “Damn, Nadija. If it’s not bedroom problems, it’s flirting again!”

“Crap. Not the time, Mr. Wenson!”

I bowed to hide my smile.

“Are you laughing at me, Astra?” Erikson asked.

I cleared my throat, then looked at him. “Why would I?”

“Put your arm around Astra too, Erikson,” Celeste added, then immediately realized what she said. “I mean, so she’ll be safer. We have to stick close together.”

We all fell silent.

Damn. Awkward.

Erikson cleared his throat. “I think we should go now.”

“Right,” I nodded.

I saw Randolf subtly elbow Celeste, and she mouthed, “Sorry.”

We exited the storage where the swords were kept. We were shocked to see flames rising all around. We’d only been distracted for a few minutes—but things had already escalated.

“This is not good,” Erikson whispered.

Even the heavy rain couldn’t put out the spreading fire. That meant someone was controlling it. I didn’t know what the witches were planning—but it was clear this fire could consume us all.

“Let’s move now!”

Celeste held my hand.

“Let’s go!”

Our group finally joined the chaos. It wasn’t as easy as it looked from afar. You couldn’t tell who was who—anyone could attack you. Ironically, that made it easier. As long as you saw everyone as the enemy—you were safe.

I blocked a blade aimed at me. I was now fighting a Vienzara. The last clan I hadn’t yet faced tonight. The rage in his eyes told me—he wasn’t one of us.

“You’ll fight your own kind?” he sneered. Then his appearance changed into a woman. That must be her real form. “You’re a witch, Astra. You’re not one of them.”

“Don’t listen to her, Astra!” Erikson yelled.

The witch laughed. “Tragic, isn’t it? A vampire killed your own father.”

“Shut up!” I kicked her in the stomach, sending us both back.

She dropped her sword. I thought that was it. But when I saw her raise her hand, gathering light—I knew she’d use magic.

I tried to attack, but a sudden force pushed me away. I dropped my sword, and she threw it back at me. I dodged and quickly picked it up again.

Shit. She’s not easy.

From where I stood, I threw my sword at her with full force. As expected, before it could reach her, she stopped it mid-air.

My sword floated and slowly turned toward me. She was about to throw it back.

“If you don’t want to be a witch, you can’t be a vampire either.”

I grabbed a sword from a fallen soldier and hurled it at her. She stopped it again. But when the first weapon dropped—I realized what I had to do.

I shot two arrows at her. She raised both hands to stop them.

Damn. I thought she could only control one object at a time.

“You can learn this if you join us,” she coaxed. “I can see how fascinated you are.”

I shook my head and readied another set of arrows. I narrowed my eyes at her. “You have a cool ability. Admirable. But I hate manipulation.”

As I fired the arrows, I charged forward with them. That triggered her counterattack. Now I was running toward my own flying arrows and sword.

I jumped and grabbed the falling sword. One of my arrows grazed my arm, but I expected that. I needed to be hit—to get my sword back.

Now, I was sprinting at her. Seconds before my arrows reached her, she stopped them—and pointed them at me.

I ran faster.

I needed more time.

Suddenly, I froze. I couldn’t feel my body.

My lips parted as I gasped. It felt like invisible chains were wrapping around me—tightening as I struggled to break free. No matter how tightly I held my weapon, it slipped from my hand.

“As much as I hate to fight my own kind, I have no choice,” she said with a smile. She bent down and picked up my sword.

I struggled to breathe.

She pointed the blade at my neck. “Send my regards to our ancestors.”

I smirked. She hadn’t noticed.

“Goodbye, Astra—”

One of my arrows struck her chest.