The black-clad assassin’s blade was already inches from Anis’s eyes when she quickly conjured an ice barrier to protect both herself and the cat.
As a mage, Anis suffered from the same weakness as her peers — she found it difficult to launch a counterattack once an enemy closed the distance.
But at that critical moment, a longsword flew in from the distance!
*Clang!*
The black-clad assassin reacted instantly, leaping backward while swinging their heavy blade with great force to deflect the flying sword’s momentum.
‘That sword…’
Anis’s eyes widened. She recognized the weapon; it was Sherry’s sword!
“Who are you? How dare you attempt an assassination on the Frenster family’s territory!”
A tiny girl with a head full of white hair and a short dress jumped in front of Anis to shield her. Sherry’s gaze was like that of a furious lion, locking onto the uninvited guest.
She drew a second sword from her waist and swung it toward the masked person’s neck!
The mysterious assassin raised their short blade to meet the attack, but their strength was clearly not on the same level. With a single strike, Sherry knocked the weapon from their hand, her blade pointing directly at their heart.
“TAKE OFF THE MASK!” she shouted sternly.
However, the opponent had no intention of complying. They rubbed their thumb and index finger together, and a sudden, blinding white light flashed before everyone’s eyes!
“Dammit!”
Sherry shielded her eyes with one hand while thrusting forward with the other. But there was no sensation of the blade piercing anything; she hit empty air.
As the light dissipated, the black-clad figure was nowhere to be found. Sherry stood there, looking around, but she couldn’t see a single trace of the opponent.
There wasn’t even a footprint left behind.
“Forget it. We will investigate this later.”
Sherry turned around and walked quickly to Anis’s side. “Are you alright?”
“Thank you.”
Seeing that her savior was Sherry, Anis felt an indescribable sensation in her heart.
She had to rely on this girl for now, yet she also had to remain on guard. Given Sherry’s personality, she was entirely capable of taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable position.
“Is your eye injured again?”
Filled with concern, Sherry raised her hand, wanting to touch her. “Does it hurt?”
“It’s fine. The wound just reopened.”
Anis stood up to dodge Sherry’s physical contact. “Why are you here?”
“I was worried about you, so I followed you secretly. It seems my intuition was right.”
Sherry retrieved her weapons from the ground and pointed toward a path leading down the mountain. “Let’s head down first. I will have the servants bring that bear back.”
The two walked down the snowy mountain. At the foot of the slope, a carriage was waiting for them.
Sherry’s personal maid opened the carriage door and bowed respectfully to them.
“Lady Anis, here is the medical kit you requested.”
Sybil handed over the box respectfully, and Anis whispered her thanks as she took it.
*Hiss, hu…*
As she took the medical kit, Anis faintly heard Sybil’s heavy, suppressed breathing.
According to Sherry, the maid should have been standing here waiting for them. Why would she be out of breath as if she had just engaged in intense exercise?
‘Did I hear that wrong?’
Anis frowned slightly, but her attention was quickly diverted by Little Meow’s whimpering.
Inside the carriage, after some treatment, Little Meow was out of danger. The cat was merely exhausted and fell into a deep sleep curled up in Anis’s arms.
As she stroked the top of the cat’s head, Anis suddenly remembered something.
“Was the bear brought back? I need some materials from its body.”
“It was brought back, but…”
Sherry’s answer seemed hesitant. After a brief pause, she continued, “The bear’s belly had been sliced open. The gall bladder and heart were removed, and even half of its hide had been stripped. If my people hadn’t stopped it in time, the entire bear might have fallen into that assassin’s hands.”
“Is that so…”
Anis lowered her gaze. Without the bear’s heart, she wouldn’t be able to brew a high-purity mana stabilization potion.
Could that girl… still hold on?
“Let’s not talk about that. Here is your reward.”
Sherry pushed a cloth bag in front of Anis. Judging by the clinking sound of metal, it was full of coins.
Anis opened it, and the glimmer of gold and silver was quite dazzling.
However, she soon spotted something else inside — a slip of paper.
“According to our previous agreement, this is the list of materials I need you to purchase.”
“Understood.”
Anis didn’t look closely at the contents. She tucked the note away, hugged her cat, and closed her eyes.
***
In the middle of the night, the entire mansion had fallen into silence.
Dressed in loose pajamas, Sherry lit a dim oil lamp on her desk. Behind her, a graceful maid was organizing the wardrobe for her master.
A black robe was neatly folded and placed in the deepest part of the closet.
“Sybil, report on today’s situation.”
“Yes.”
After finishing with the wardrobe, Sybil took a paper bag from her pocket and handed it respectfully to Sherry. “This is the ground powder from the bear’s heart.”
“Mhm, good.”
Sherry held the bag up to the lamp, examining it closely. “Now we’re only missing the Frost Lily of the Valley.”
“There is one more thing, Young Lady. I am deeply sorry.”
Sybil began with an apology. “I failed to take down that cat. Its strength exceeded my expectations.”
“It doesn’t matter. There is always a next time. Opportunities are plenty.”
Sherry’s expression became intriguing. “That cat is indeed the most unstable variable in my plan to control Anis. It must not be allowed to live.”
“Understood. I shall take my leave then.”
Sybil respectfully returned the heavy dagger Sherry had given her, bowed deeply again, and prepared to leave.
“Wait.”
Just as her hand touched the doorknob, Sherry’s voice stopped her. “Did you make contact with Anis?”
“…”
Sybil hesitated for a moment before answering, “Not yet. I haven’t found the right opportunity.”
“Once Anis returns from her shopping trip, find a night to test her. That is an order.”
Sherry spoke to Sybil in a tone that allowed no room for failure. “Saving that girl requires Anis’s help. She will have to find out about this eventually. Do you understand?”
“As you wish.”
Sybil bowed and left.
Silence filled the room. After gazing at the starry sky for a while, Sherry rose from her chair. The candlelight flickered with the movement of air, stretching the girl’s shadow.
She walked to a cabinet, took out a magic crystal ball, and began her mana practice for the day.
Sherry muttered softly to herself, “Anis, if you want to become stronger, you must discard all trivial emotions. Having me alone is enough.”
“That cat will only be an obstacle to you.”
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