The midday sun shone bright and scorching, spilling over the stone tiles of the plaza and making the air itself shimmer with heat.
In the lively bustle of people coming and going, Milda walked steadily beside Mira, her gaze fixed on the cloaked figure ahead.
Helos was hiding near a corner by the fountain, seemingly lost in thought.
Sunlight refracted through the water, falling on her hair that spilled out from her hood. Her long silver hair shimmered like a sky full of stars.
As Milda drew closer, her footsteps gradually slowed. She chose a relatively secluded corner to circle around, not wanting this meeting to attract too much attention.
Yet, just as she was about to step forward and greet the girl, a sudden, strange feeling surged within her.
It felt as if something was pressing on her chest. Her breath caught for a moment, her Mana seemed to be instantly drained to the bottom, leaving her so stifled that she couldn’t help but halt in her tracks.
Her brows furrowed tightly. She instinctively stepped half a pace back, her gaze complicated as she stared at the girl ahead.
Helos noticed this scene too.
The slight smile that had appeared on her face at seeing Milda froze instantly.
Her pale violet eyes trembled faintly. She saw Milda’s retreat, and a ripple of unease welled up in her heart.
She instinctively hunched her shoulders, blinking in confusion.
For a moment, the air seemed to fall silent.
In the end, it was Milda who spoke first.
Her voice was low, but tinged with wariness: “You—what did you do to me?”
Helos was taken aback: “Eh?”
“My Mana.”
Milda’s gaze was grave, her hand lifted slightly as if sensing the abnormal flow within her body. “When I got close to you, it was severely suppressed, as if forcibly locked away.”
Helos’ heart clenched violently.
This is bad.
She hadn’t expected the other to sense it so keenly.
Those blacksmiths in the lower city at most just felt dizzy and weak—they would never, like Milda, immediately grasp the essence of their Mana being suppressed.
She pressed her lips together, glanced around, and seeing that no one was paying attention to them, carefully took a step closer.
Lowering her voice to a near whisper, she said: “That’s a kind of Ability I have—but please believe me, I won’t do you any harm.”
Just those few words carried an indescribable weight.
Milda was momentarily stunned, her emerald eyes flashing with a strange light under the sun.
She saw the hesitation in the girl’s expression, even a trace of cautiousness.
Those eyes, bright as crystal, now looked as if they might shatter at any moment like fragile glass.
“So,” Helos added softly, her voice so light it was almost blown away by the wind, “do you still want to go see the Golem with me?”
As she spoke, her whole body tensed up, her fingers nervously clutching the hem of her cloak.
Milda was silent for a moment.
The wind brushed past her ears, while Mira blinked curiously but asked nothing, just watching the confrontation between the two.
At last, Milda exhaled softly and nodded.
“Let’s go.”
Just those simple words seemed to lift a heavy stone from Helos’ heart.
The girl lifted her head, a faint light flashing in her eyes before she quickly suppressed it, nodded, and turned to lead the way.
She walked ahead, her steps noticeably lighter.
***
Meanwhile, Milda deliberately maintained her distance, controlling her stride to always keep a safe space between them.
Mira obediently followed behind Milda, trotting to keep up, her mind filled with curiosity about the brief silence just now.
They moved forward, gradually leaving the bustling plaza behind.
The roads of the upper city were broad and straight, with tall, ornate buildings lining both sides. Intricately carved pillars and arches everywhere highlighted the nobility of this place.
Compared to the ruggedness of the lower city, every brick and tile here exuded refinement and care.
The deeper they went, the more dazzled Mira became. She couldn’t help but sigh softly, “People in the upper city live in places like this. It even feels like the air is fresher than in the lower city.”
Milda didn’t respond, merely withdrawing her gaze and focusing on the silver-haired figure ahead.
Helos walked with her head down the whole way, as if unwilling to draw any more attention.
She knew her curse couldn’t be exposed, which made her a bit tense inside.
However, Milda was experienced.
As they continued down the road, she gradually sensed something unusual.
Some patrolling guards passed by them.
Their armor gleamed, spears catching the cold light, their movements neat and orderly.
Whenever some guards passed the girl, they would glance at her— not out of unfamiliarity, but as if confirming something.
A faint sense of foreboding crept into Milda’s heart.
Finally, when they stopped before a grand mansion, her suspicions became certainty.
The tall iron gate was inlaid with the Olivius Crest, its carvings interlacing, surrounded by laurel branches symbolizing authority and honor.
At the gate, two guards stood upright.
The instant they saw the silver-haired girl, they were stunned, almost as if by reflex.
“Second Young Miss? You sneaked out again?”
One couldn’t help but whisper, his tone full of both shock and anxiety.
“Ahem.”
Helos’ face stiffened. She quickly raised her forefinger to her lips and lowered her voice, “Keep it down! Just pretend you didn’t see me.”
She pressed her lips tight, her expression utterly serious as she nodded slightly, as if declaring something perfectly natural.
The guards exchanged glances, cold sweat breaking out on their foreheads.
But before they could say anything, the other one plucked up his courage and asked: “These two are…?”
“They’re craftsmen I invited. I need their help with something.”
Helos replied without hesitation.
The guard’s expression grew strange, as if weighing whether to press further.
But seeing her righteous air, they could only nod helplessly: “I… see. Very well, we’ll keep it a secret for you. But Second Young Miss, next time you want to go out, please let us know in advance.”
“If I let you know, would I still be able to get out?”
“Uh…” The guard was momentarily lost for words. He opened his mouth, then gave an awkward laugh, “That… is hard to say.”
An awkward air flickered through the scene.
But Milda was rooted to the spot.
She turned, staring hard at Helos, a look of genuine shock appearing in her eyes for the first time.
“You are…”
Helos lowered her eyes, her voice barely above a whisper: “The Duke Olivius’ daughter.”
Milda felt a buzzing in her head, momentarily forgetting how to respond.
At last, she understood why this girl could afford to buy a Golem, why even the upper city’s patrolling guards looked at her that way.
She had thought she was just a rich noble girl. Only now did she realize the girl before her was actually the daughter of the lord of this city.
And Helos simply stood there quietly, a trace of nervousness flickering in her eyes, as if waiting for Milda’s reaction.
Mira opened her mouth, as if about to speak, but Milda stopped her with a raised hand.
Milda took a deep breath, pushing down the waves in her heart, her gaze meeting those cautious violet eyes once more.
Her voice remained steady, as if nothing had happened: “Please lead the way, Second Young Miss. No matter what, I will do my utmost to help you.”
Thanks for translating.