Thursday evening arrived quickly, bringing with it a heavy tension.
The Novice Gauntlet was set to begin at 8:00 AM the following morning.
Every news station in the city was currently running endless loops of Julian Vance showing off his fire magic, hyping up the Silver Vanguard Guild’s inevitable victory.
Liam stood in the safehouse armory, ignoring the television playing in the corner. The armory was a masterclass in lethal efficiency. Racks of high-tier swords, specialized firearms, and enchanted armor lined the walls, all perfectly maintained by Silas.
The tall, stoic retainer stood by a large metallic table, presenting three different sets of combat gear.
"Standard operating procedure for an E-Rank Vanguard entry involves heavy kinetic plating," Silas explained in his deep, gravelly voice. He gestured to a bulky set of silver chest armor. "It sacrifices mobility for maximum survivability against C-Rank dungeon monsters."
"Absolutely not," Liam said instantly, dismissing the armor with a wave of his hand. "Heavy plating limits my hip rotation and clanks when I walk. Stealth is useless if I sound like a falling toolbox."
Vespera walked into the armory, holding a sleek, rectangular black case. She had changed into a dark, tailored suit that made her look like a ruthless corporate executive. "He is right, Silas. Putting him in heavy armor is like putting chains on a hunting dog. He needs to move."
She set the black case on the metallic table and popped the latches.
Inside lay a combat uniform that looked like it had been woven out of midnight. It consisted of fitted tactical trousers, a breathable, long-sleeved compression shirt, and a high-collared jacket. The fabric absorbed the light in the room, refusing to reflect even a single glimmer.
"Spidersilk weave reinforced with shadow-attuned runic threading," Vespera explained, tracing a finger lightly over the fabric. "It is incredibly lightweight, silent, and can withstand a direct slash from a standard blade. It will also seamlessly integrate with your shadow abilties."
Liam picked up the jacket. It weighed almost nothing, yet he could feel the dense protective magic humming within the threads. It was a masterpiece of tailoring and magical engineering.
"This is easily worth a million credits," Liam noted, looking up at her. "Why give a priceless piece of equipment to an E-Rank?"
"Because you are representing my estate," Vespera replied, her icy blue eyes meeting his dark stare without blinking. "And I refuse to let anyone associated with the Nocturne family walk into an arena looking like a cheap mercenary. Consider it an investment."
Silas quietly excused himself from the room, sensing the subtle shift in the atmosphere and leaving the two of them alone among the weapons.
Liam set the jacket back in the case. He leaned against the metallic table, crossing his arms over his chest. "You are nervous."
Vespera’s eyes narrowed instantly. "I do not get nervous, Cross."
"Your breathing is slightly shallower than normal, and you have been tapping your index finger against your thigh for the last three minutes," Liam pointed out calmly. "You put a lot of political capital on the line by shielding me from Director Vance. If I fail tomorrow, your father will face an inquiry from the Association board."
Vespera stared at him. She hated how easily he read her.
She was used to being the smartest person in the room, the untouchable prodigy who analyzed everyone else. Having an E rank boy dissect her micro-expressions was deeply infuriating.
"Julian Vance is a spoiled brat, but his fire magic is highly destructive," Vespera said, her voice dropping into a quieter, more serious tone. "He will have twenty trained lackeys guarding him. They will have communication runes, healing potions, and advanced tracking gear. You are walking into a simulated forest with nothing but a fancy jacket and your teacup of shadow magic."
"Gallon jug," Liam corrected mildly.
Vespera rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth twitched. "Fine. A gallon jug. The point stands. Are you actually confident you can dismantle an entire Vanguard squad solo?"
The System chimed brightly in Liam’s head.
[New Quest Alert: The Ice Queen’s Wager.]
[She is doubting your overwhelming competence! This cannot stand.]
[Task: Issue a wager. Secure a promise from Vespera Nocturne. Make it unreasonable.]
[Reward: High-tier agility boost and a massive spike in her Affection.]
Liam looked at the golden text, then looked back at Vespera. For once, he actually agreed with the Goddess.
"I am not just going to dismantle his squad," Liam said, his voice devoid of arrogance, sounding only like a man stating an undeniable fact. "I am going to strip them of every single token. I am going to make Julian Vance look so incredibly pathetic that Director Vance will have to publicly apologize for wasting the Association’s time."
He took a step closer to her, invading her personal space just enough to make her breath hitch.
"If I do exactly that," Liam murmured, looking down into her wide blue eyes, "what do I get in return?"
Vespera’s heart gave a strange, uncharacteristic flutter. She tilted her chin up stubbornly, refusing to back down from his intense gaze. "You get to stay out of a federal prison. I would say that is a rather substantial reward."
"That is the baseline expectation," Liam countered smoothly. "I want a wager. Just between us."
Vespera scoffed softly, a genuine spark of competitive fire lighting up her eyes. "Fine. Name your terms, Shadow boy."
"If I humiliate the Silver Vanguard Guild tomorrow and take first place," Liam said, his dark eyes dropping briefly to her lips before meeting her gaze again, "you owe me one unconditional favor. Anything I ask."
Vespera stared at him. It was a wildly dangerous wager to make with a guy who seemed to ignore all rules of common decency. But the competitive, arrogant side of her simply could not resist the challenge.
"And if you fail?" she asked, her voice dropping to a whisper. "If Julian Vance catches you and breaks your bones on live television?"
"Then I will act as your personal sparring dummy for the next five years," Liam offered. "No complaints. No running."
Vespera slowly extended her hand, the air around her fingers chilling slightly with the thrill of the bet.
"Deal," she said.
Liam gripped her hand. His warm skin clashed perfectly against her freezing touch. They stood there for a long second, the unspoken tension pulling taut between them, before Vespera forcefully pulled her hand away and turned toward the door.
"Get dressed, Cross," she ordered, her voice back to its usual aristocratic clip. "You need to sleep. We leave for the arena at six in the morning."
As the heavy armory door clicked shut behind her, Liam looked down at his hand. He could still feel the phantom chill of her fingers.
He smiled.
Julian Vance had absolutely no idea the kind of nightmare that was coming for him tomorrow.