Grey's killing intent pulsed through the air—sharp, suffocating.
The girl instinctively stepped back.
It was a movement born purely from instinct… nothing more.
Under normal circumstances, someone like Grey couldn't even scratch her, no matter how hard he tried. The gap between them was too vast—like heaven and earth.
But the killing intent had come so suddenly…
So unexpectedly…
That it caught her off guard.
She hadn't anticipated such a level of murderous intent from a boy this young.
Yet, It felt so real...
For the briefest instant, she felt as if she were standing in the center of a pool of blood.
For a moment, she was taken aback.
In the first place, killing intent wasn't something just anyone could wield.
It wasn't mana.
It wasn't magic.
It wasn't even something one could Emit just because they want to.
It was the raw manifestation of one's will to kill—honed through experience, forged in the crucible of countless battles, or awakened by a sudden, overwhelming desire to end a life.
A psychological, almost spiritual pressure that made others feel hunted. Cornered. Suffocated.
Like prey under the gaze of a predator.
And it had nothing to do with power, mana or rank.
Which was why even trained awakened struggled to emit it.
Only those who had killed—those who had survived death and delivered it—could produce such a thing.
And even then, only in the most intense moment of their life.
So for a boy like this him… to unleash such a thick murderous intent and for it to felt so real… it caught even elsa completely off guard.
If not for her superior control—her unwavering discipline—she might've killed him on reflex alone.
For a moment, her usual confidence faltered.
But only for a moment.
She quickly regained her composure, her expression sharpening as her gaze locked onto his.
"Don't look at me with such murder in your eyes," she muttered—more to herself than to him.
Her eyes flickered away, thoughtful… distant… before she sighed and looked back at him, her face once again becoming unreadable.
"You're probably wondering why I didn't kill you," she said, her voice calm yet commanding. "It's because you… intrigue me."
Grey's eyes narrowed, his silence masking the swirl of thoughts racing through his mind.
The word itself sounded dangerous in her mouth.
There was nothing comforting in her curiosity—only layers of intent hidden behind that sweet smile.
He stayed on edge, knowing that whatever she wanted from him, it wouldn't come without strings attached.
"'Intrigue'?" his asked, his tone flat but laced with skepticism.
The Girl smirk deepened, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"Yes. Even though you're not awakened, you managed to hold your ground against me for longer than I expected."
There was a mocking lilt to her words, as though his efforts had been nothing more than a brief entertainment for her.
"An unweakened managing to survive against someone like me? That's not something you see every day. You've got some skill with a bow, too."
Grey remained still, his guard unbroken.
He wasn't here to feed her ego, and he certainly wasn't in the mood to entertain her twisted interest.
But he knew she was leading him somewhere—He just hadn't figured out where yet.
She took a step back, her posture loosening as her hand fell to her side. "Despite your… limitations, there's something about you that I need."
Suspicion flashed through Grey's eyes. "And what exactly is that?"
Her smile widened, her amusement turning into something darker. "Why, your cooperation, of course. There's a task that requires a certain... skill set. And I believe you're the perfect candidate."
Before he could respond, she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a near-whisper as her breath brushed his ear.
"Or maybe…" her tone turned teasing, almost playful, "I just don't want to let you go. Maybe I've fallen for you, and this is all an excuse to keep you close."
A chill crept down Grey's spine, but it wasn't her proximity that unnerved him—it was the veiled menace behind her words.
Her tone was casual, but there was something far more dangerous lurking beneath. He can see the glint in her eyes.
He wasn't sure what her endgame was, but one thing was certain: she wasn't here out of affection.
"Why should I trust you?" Grey asked, his voice steady but his gaze sharp, cutting through her thin veneer of playfulness.
She chuckled softly, stepping back with an amused smile.
"Trust?"
She shook her head, as if the very notion was ridiculous.
"Trust is a luxury you can't afford, Ravenwood. But cooperation?"
Her expression darkened slightly, growing more serious.
"That's a different story. You'll find that, for now, it's in your best interest to go along with me."
The tension between them grew thick, a silent battle of wills.
Grey weighed his options, none of them appealing.
He was backed into a corner, and for now, she held all the cards.
But she hadn't killed him yet.
There was something more she wanted, and that was his leverage.
After a moment's pause, he inclined his head slightly.
"Well its not like I have a choice" he said, his voice carefully controlled, betraying nothing of his internal battle. He would play along—for now.
Her grin stretched wider, pleased by his answer.
"Smart choice," she said, her voice smooth with satisfaction.
She turned, her movements fluid and unhurried as she began walking away. "Follow me."
Grey stayed where he was for a moment, watching her every step.
His instincts screamed that this wasn't over—that whatever came next would be even more dangerous than what he'd already faced.
But for now, he would follow her.
He had no other choice.
But one thing was certain...
He wasn't about to let her hold the advantage for long.