No matter how far he looked, all he could see was destruction, the same town that was filled with noise and laughter just seconds ago had now turned into a graveyard.

Leon took off his glasses and wiped the dust sticking to them while keeping his eyes closed, trying to process everything that had just happened. That young boy's mana core was white, and for a child of that age to have a core like that was impossible, and judging from the bruises covering his body, there was only one conclusion he could reach in that moment, someone must have forced it.

The blast was not an accident. It was planned from the beginning.

Leon recalled the strange woman on the stage, remembering how easily she gathered the entire crowd, how casually she spoke, how naturally she picked the boy, and from all of that, it was already clear to him that she had been behind it.

He glanced ahead as he adjusted his specs again and saw the thick black smog rising higher into the sky, and he knew that the explosion was devastating enough that anyone even slightly close to the center would have no chance of surviving.

He stopped thinking and turned to look at the others.

Layla was still sitting on the ground, covered in dirt from head to toe, her gown was torn badly, her hair was messy, and her mind clearly shaken by fear and confusion. Rinna was the same, sitting beside Layla with wide eyes as she stared at the orange sky in front of them.

Eula, however, was standing beside Leon, and when he tilted his head toward her, he realized something immediately.

Unlike the other two, she was not stunned or confused. She looked calm, almost too calm. It was the expression of someone who had already witnessed this kind of destruction before. It felt like this kind of scene meant nothing new to her, as if she had seen far worse events in the past and this was simply another tragedy added to her memory.

Eula murmured something under her breath, too soft for Leon to hear clearly. The look in her eyes matched the feeling of an empty doll who had long stopped reacting to devastation.

She glanced at Leon's face once, then turned toward the two girls still on the ground.

"Did either of you get hurt?" she asked.

Layla and Rinna both shook their heads with their mouths still open, unable to speak properly.

"Good," Eula said, and then she looked at Leon. "Leon, I sensed a strange mana signature earlier, and if I was right, then it must have been a demon."

Leon nodded. "Yes, I sensed it too."

He remembered the young boy's mana core cracking violently. It had turned dark for a brief moment, like black ink spreading across glass. That only happened when someone infused dark mana directly into another person's core.

A core corruption. It was one of the rarest mana phenomena in the kingdom. There had not been a single recorded case in the last five years. For it to suddenly appear here meant there was an external force involved.

"What do you want to do now, Princess?" he asked, already expecting her answer.

Eula gave a slow nod and said.

"My guards from the royal castle are probably already moving, they must have sensed the mana shift from earlier and they must have seen the teleportation too, so they should be reaching here any moment."

"I see," Leon replied.

If that was the case, then the news of the explosion would spread among the highest authorities in the kingdom very soon. But what bothered Leon was something else entirely.

'Why now?'

This explosion made no sense unless someone wanted absolute chaos. Someone wanted the kingdom to panic.

Before he could think any further, someone suddenly appeared behind Eula.

"Princess Eula, Princess Rinna, you are safe!"

Leon turned sharply.

A woman stepped out of the smoke. She wore a full black assassin robe completely soaked in dust, soot and blood. Her face was covered except for her eyes, and Leon noticed immediately that she was missing one arm.

The wound was fresh and bleeding down her side.

Eula saw it as well and bit her lip.

"How many of you survived?" Eula asked.

The assassin bowed slightly. "Including me, only three. The others did not get the chance to react."

Eula looked at Rinna and said, "This place is still dangerous. Can you take Rinna and that girl back to the Valentine's Dukedom?"

The assassin shook her head.

"I am sorry, Princess. I do not have enough strength left. I used all of my mana for recovery."

Eula did not show any frustration.

"I understand, then stay with us, the explosion was too large and the knights and guards should already be rushing here by now."

"As you wish," the assassin replied.

Leon took a step back and crouched in front of Layla and Rinna.

"Did either of you get hurt?"

Layla and Rinna stared at him, then spoke at the same time.

"How are you this calm?"

Leon blinked once. He thought for a moment and replied softly, "I am bothered. I just know how to keep my head cool no matter the situation."

He stood up and offered his hand to Layla.

"Here."

Layla took it, and he helped her up gently. He turned to Rinna next and extended his hand.

"Princess Rinna."

Rinna hesitated but did not reject him. She placed her hand in his and tried to stand, but the moment she pushed upward, a sharp ache shot up her ankle.

"Ow."

Leon noticed immediately.

"You twisted your ankle, huh, do not move. Layla, support her for a moment."

Layla wrapped her arm around Rinna's shoulder to steady her.

Leon crouched again and reached inside his coat. He took out a small ten milliliter blue glass bottle and set it on the ground. Then he lifted Rinna's ankle gently and removed her sandal.

"Hah… it hurts," Rinna hissed quietly.

"Wait," Leon said as he picked up the bottle.

He opened the cap and poured the entire liquid onto the bruised area. The blue glow shimmered briefly, and the injury faded into normal skin.

"A mid grade healing potion?" Layla said as she watched.

"Yes. I always carry a few," Leon replied and looked up at Rinna's face. "How do you feel now, Princess?"

Rinna stared at his calm face, and a quiet thump echoed in her chest without her permission.

"Princess?" Leon asked again.

"A-ah, yes. It does not hurt anymore," she answered.

Leon smiled slightly and turned to Layla. "Do you need a potion?"

Layla looked at him, then at Rinna, who still felt her heartbeat pounding against Layla's arm. Layla decided not to speak too much.

"I am good," she said.

"Leon." Eula called him from behind.

Leon stood up and tossed the empty bottle aside.

"Yes?" he answered, facing her.

Leaving the assassin behind, Eula walked toward Leon.

"Stay with them. I will be back in a second."

"Sister?" Rinna called out immediately.

Eula looked over her shoulder.

"It is alright, I am only going to see if anyone nearby survived, nothing more."

Rinna tried to stand straighter even though Layla was still holding her.

"Then let me come with you, going alone right now is dangerous."

The assassin stepped in before Eula could respond.

"Princess Rinna is correct, and I was ordered to keep you out of any danger, so please remain here until the knights arrive."

Eula clicked her tongue lightly.

"It will take time. Not many can use long distance teleportation so quickly. I just want to see if someone nearby made it."

They were far from the center of town. The houses around them were damaged but still standing. A few people had stepped out to see the smoke and destruction from a distance. They whispered to themselves, possibly shocked but unsure of what exactly happened.

Leon ignored the murmurs and spoke before Eula could walk any further.

"I do not think it is needed, Princess. Like you said, the blast was loud enough for everyone to hear."

He knew what she was trying to do. Eula had no intention of waiting for anyone. She wanted to act on her own before the knights arrived, but Leon also knew this would only cause trouble later.

Eula heard him but did not stop.

"I know, but even so, it will take about twenty minutes before anyone gets here."

Leon raised his brow.

"That is if my sister is not present at the dukedom."

Eula froze.

"Ah," she muttered under her breath.

If Veronica was in the dukedom today, then she must have seen the flash from Tiara. There was no chance she would stay still after that. If she saw the blast directly with her own eyes, then she would already be on her way.

Which meant she could appear any moment.

Right on cue, a familiar voice echoed across the open space.

"Leon. Layla."

They all turned at the same time.

A distortion in the air flickered near their right side. The space twisted and a red heel stepped onto the ground. Her figure followed right after, emerging from the thin air.

Veronica stood there with her red and white dress fluttering behind her. She scanned the area fast. First she looked at Leon from head to toe, then at Layla, then at Rinna and Eula. Only after confirming they were all standing, her shoulders loosen slightly.

Veronica's gaze moved back to Leon.

"Are you hurt?" she asked in a low voice.

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[A/N: 600 PS for 3 extra chapters till the end of weekend]

[Also, I am increasing the word length to 2.2K+ words each chapter from starting today. So, most of the chapters from now on will have exceed word count.

Thanks for supporting my work. It truly means a lot to me.

To the non priv readers, the chapter with exceed 2.2K+ words will up within weeks.]

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