[Earlier]
The party was buzzing with laughter, chatter, and clinking glasses, but Amy Bluerose felt a growing sense of unease.
She had been trying to distract herself all night, but her mind kept drifting back to Noah and the mark she had noticed on the back of his neck during the combat exams.
It was unusual—something she couldn't quite place.
The mark seemed ominous, foreign, and it unsettled her in a way she hadn't expected.
Sitting at a table draped in red velvet, she drummed her fingers, her eyes scanning the crowd but not really seeing anyone.
Her thoughts consumed her.
She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
And if there was one thing Amy Bluerose hated, it was uncertainty.
"Maybe confronting him is my best option right now."
She muttered to herself.
"This party is boring anyway."
She glanced over at Draven, her ever-present bodyguard, who was leaning against the bar and charming a small group of girls.
His dark hair and sharp red eyes made him stand out, and his easygoing demeanor drew people in like moths to a flame.
Draven laughed, his voice carrying across the room.
"So, ladies, what do you call a noble knight with a heart as pure as gold?"
The girls giggled, leaning closer.
"You call him unworthy... because he hasn't met you yet."
Draven said, flashing them a grin.
The girls erupted in a chorus of giggles, their cheeks flushed as they hung on to his every word.
Draven winked at one of them before standing up to join Amy, his black coat draped loosely over his shoulders.
"Until we meet again, my sweet flowers."
He said with a bow, leaving the girls blushing and whispering amongst themselves.
Amy rolled her eyes, standing abruptly from her seat.
Draven, noticing her sudden movement, quickly followed behind her.
"Leaving already?"
Draven asked, a playful smile on his lips.
"You didn't enjoy the party?"
Amy's expression remained cold.
"No, I didn't."
Draven raised an eyebrow, falling into step beside her as they made their way toward the exit.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She rushed forward, kneeling beside the body, her breath catching in her throat.
With trembling hands, she turned the figure over, revealing Noah's pale face.
His shirt had been torn off, and blood stained his skin.
"Noah?"
She whispered, her voice breaking as her fingers gently touched his cold cheek.
She could feel the sticky warmth of blood pooling on the floor beneath him, its metallic scent filling the air.
Her heart raced as she pressed her fingers to his neck, desperately searching for a pulse.
Nothing.
Her hands shook as she moved to his chest, pressing down to check for any sign of life.
But there was none.
A wave of nausea rolled through her as the truth settled in—Noah wasn't breathing.
Blood trickled from the side of his head, staining the floor beneath him.
She stared at the crimson liquid, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing.
What was going on?
Behind her, Draven stood frozen in the doorway, his usual carefree demeanor replaced with shock.
His red eyes scanned the scene, and he stepped forward cautiously.
"Amy..." Draven's voice was soft, uncharacteristically gentle, but Amy didn't respond.
***
[Present]
Her focus was entirely on Noah.
The weight of his lifeless body pressed against her, grounding her in the harsh reality of the moment.
The air in the room shifted suddenly, the atmosphere growing tense and thick with energy.
A strange purple hue began to envelop her, and Amy's sharp instincts kicked in.
She could feel the surge of mana radiating from Maya, who was kneeling beside Noah.
Amy stood up, alarmed, her eyes wide as she took a step back.
The look in Maya's eyes was dark, her usual warm gaze now cold and distant.
Her voice, when she spoke, was icy and filled with barely-contained fury.
"What did you do?"
Maya's question cut through the air like a blade, and the weight of her accusation sent a chill down Amy's spine.
Amy opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
For the first time in her life, she had no idea what to say.